This is pretty savage, wei!
We all know the importance of sex education, since every child has the right to learn about how their bodies work. However, due to cultural taboos revolving around sex, it’s been a controversial topic for many nations all over the world.
Recently, lawmakers in Hong Kong have been reviewing 21-year-old sex education guidelines that have not been updated for years.
According to Hong Kong Free Press, some of them have condemned outdated perceptions of what constitutes abnormal sex practices, since these guidelines list transgender people under this category, along with cross-dressing, flashing and voyeuristic behaviour.
Although their Education Bureau has stated that the guidelines should not be considered as a curriculum guide, no new guidelines have come out since 1997.
“There’s a need to review this. Any guidelines – [even if] for reference purposes only – should not have such biased elements,” said a local legislator.
During this discussion, other lawmakers present also gave their opinions on how sex education should be taught. One lawmaker, Edward Lau Kwok-fan, said that he believed students are experiencing information overload with sex education. He also pointed out a concern about who gets to teach sex education as well, saying,
“Maybe some teachers have never dated before, and they have no experience… how do they teach it?”
Whaaat???
Lau added that the Education Bureau and schools should consult experts to prepare teaching materials, as well as groups experienced in sex education to reduce pressure on school teachers.
His statement about school teachers’ love lives drew a lot of reactions from local netizens, according to Coconuts.
“If you weren’t fighting in World War Two, then you shouldn’t be teaching history,” commented one netizen. Another netizen said, “If you haven’t died, maybe you shouldn’t be a coroner.”
In Hong Kong, sex education is not compulsory although it’s part of the curriculum, so there are concerns that some students may not be well-informed enough.
Hmm…what do you think of this lawmaker’s statement? Let us know in the comments below!
Also read: China’s New Informative Sex Education Textbooks Cause Controversy Among Netizens