(IPS) To some, it is a bold, candid and realistic attempt to teach young Thais sex education. To others, it is dangerous material that could well corrupt impressionable minds.

At the centre of this debate is a 32-page booklet called Khumue Waisai (Handbook for Teenagers), which was produced to educate those aged 12 years and above on the physical and emotional aspects of sex.

It contains details and illustrations about the human sex organs, relations with the opposite sex, safe sex and birth control, menstruation.

But after the book was distributed to schools in November, its contents became a controversial topic. Accusations grew about its candidness and the book's use of slang words such as tok bet (baiting fish) and chuk wao (flying a kite) to refer to masturbation.

But this did not bother some young people, who say the book reflects reality more than anything else.

"The information about sex given in the booklet is quite ordinary," said 17-year-old Anusorn Sa-ad-jum, an eleventh grade student. "Its content answers what people my age want to know."

Dirty talk

He says he cannot talk to his parents about sex because it is seen as 'dirty' talk. He can learn about physical development from books used in health education class, but that information is usually described very scientifically and has few links to everyday realities and young people's concerns.

"My friends and I are all familiar with those (supposedly offensive) terms as we would say them when we are joking around with friends anyway,'' Anusorn said of the furore about the book's language.

Still, the row prompted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to ban the booklet in January, saying it uses improper language and crosses the line in discussing sex. "We have to put a hold on distribution of the remaining copies until all inappropriate language is corrected," said Thaksin.

But young people say the debate so far tends to look at young people as ignorant and underestimates their intelligence.

"I see nothing wrong with sex education. It is about the right time for us to learn it so we know how to protect ourselves," said 17-year-old Anusorn Sa-ad-ium, an 11th grade student.

Still, some call the book's content ''unacceptable'' in Thai culture, and some teachers and parents say the slang terms for masturbation are likely to interest young people in trying out sex.

"I think some of the details and words are a bit too much for Thais, but still sex education is important," said 16-year-old Chantavadee Kanjan.

Sompong Rujiwan, director of Suan Kularb schools, pointed out: "Children do not need to be taught to masturbate because they would learn it naturally. They would rather be taught from the ethical and moral aspects."

Double-edged sword

Still, he added that although the publisher of the booklet  the non-government Siam Care Organisation  claimed good intentions in communicating effectively with youngsters to curb the spread of HIV/Aids, the book could be a double-edged sword.

Statistics show that HIV/Aids is the second leading cause of death among Thai youngsters aged 15 to 24 years old.

Thailand has acquired a reputation for using aggressive anti-HIV/Aids campaigns that reached schools and entertainment districts. This led to major success in getting almost 100 percent condom use.

But the production of material for youngsters is obviously a much more sensitive area.

Khumue Waisa was earlier distributed free to government agencies, state enterprises, public health clinics, hospitals, high schools and universities throughout Thailand. It was published by the Siam-Care Organisation, at the instructions of the Prime Minister's Office.

The working committee on the booklet included representatives from the Public Health Ministry, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Mahidol University, the Thai Red Cross and non-governmental organisations.

Written for youngsters

"It was written in a simple way for youngsters learning how to deal withchanges involving sex," Somsak Wiangyangkung, director of Siam-Care Thailand, was quoted as saying.

He said the second edition of the booklet  which has 100,000 copies  drew on the views of more than 1,500 youngsters. The first edition received good feedback from students at nearly 100 schools, according to a survey.

Some youngsters who said they had had sex said they would have refrained from it they had read the book earlier, the survey also showed.

"I want them to compare the contents of this handbook with the pictures of half-naked women on the front page of some newspapers and in some Japanese comic books. They should ask themselves which one is obscene media," Somsak pointed out.

A similar book issued by the committee in charge of Aids awareness campaigns was also withdrawn earlier because of ''improper'' language.

"This handbook is very useful, with straightforward, clear and easy -to-understand words and illustrations,'' said Jirada Rattanarungsri, an advising teacher for Teen Friends: Puen Jai Wai Roon, a club promoting sex education at Pracharat Upahtam School.

"Teenagers know more than what is said in the book. They learn all the things from pornographic comic books, movies and the Internet, which are widely available," she said.

Looking at pornography

A poll by Assumption University showed that 11 percent of Thai teenagers (12-22 years old) spend their free time looking at pornography in magazines, movies, and the Internet. A total of 4.7 percent say they were having sexual relations with their boyfriends or girlfriends.

But experts say the bigger danger, more than the language in a book, lies in sex education that fails to reach young people.

A lack of understanding of their own sexuality, learning on their own or through friends or pornographic material  which may be wrong or harmful  is likely to lead young people to unwanted pregnancies, abortions, and sexually transmitted diseases.

"My students have seen the book and none of them said it is too offensive, but rather it is reference they can trust more than teen magazines,'' Jirada said.

"After three years of conducting our year-round-project, which encourages students to talk openly about sexual issues, statistics show that unwanted pregnancies amongst participating students have dropped from an average of eight cases per semester to only one," said Jirada.

A survey by the Thai-language newspaper Thai Rath last year says that Thai youngsters are getting into sex at earlier ages  at an average of 17.6 years old. Some said they had tried it out at 13. The report aid 300 to 350 children are abandoned from unwanted pregnancies each year.

In short, some youngsters say, they do need the right information given in an effective manner. Said Anusorn: "The more it is concealed, the more we (teenagers) want to know.''