Malaysia has a problem, a major one at that - of being in denial. From the policy makers to the often times naive public, they have a problem of dealing with reality, of looking at truth squarely in the face.

One such example of just how far off mark the country's so-called able politicians are in dealing with situations concerns the recent incident of a university student who endured the agony of delivering her baby in the confines of her hostel room all by herself. As predicted, this incident provoked public outcry and the student's morality became an issue.

In this case, if there was any hope, it came in the form of the comments made by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Jalil who rightfully and prudently questioned the absence of compassion from the public towards the plight of the student concerned.

This incident also prompted calls that sex education be introduced in schools and that children should be taught beyond the human anatomy as it happens in biology lessons at present.

Sex education is an issue that has been lying idle on the government's discussion table for over a decade now. It seems to us that none of the politicians and ministers are dedicated in looking at this issue of young unwed girls and cases of abandoned babies.

It is disheartening to note that except for Shahrizat, no other ministers bothered to offer ideas on how sex education can be implemented in schools.

It would help if the Youth and Sports Minister Azalina Othman Said can pay equal attention to youth matters as she does with sports issues. Azalina's ministry can play a role in working with non-governmental organisations in talking to youngsters about reproductive health, make informed choices when it comes to sex and the need to understand sex beyond sex per se. It is a question of how sincere our ministers are in displaying the political will to make sincere changes.

Accept reality

The reality is that Malaysian adolescents are becoming sexually active at a very young age, as the Durex Global Surey had recently pointed out. The absence of sex education in schools is regarded as a contributing factor in adults often making uninformed choices when it comes to sex later on life. The ignorance about contraceptives and sexually transmitted diseases too stems from a lack of education on sex.

A look at the state of sexual health education in the country will show that the scenario is uttterly dismal. Teachers are cringing when posed with questions on sex, condoms and how babies are "made".

This crippling situation in schools forces students to turn elsewhere for information, often times learning the hard way, with female students ending up pregnant. The refusal to address sexual health education among schoolchildren has made our schools the laughing stock of adolescents. Adults seem to not remember that children today have a vast access to information through the media and the Internet.

Also, adults fail to realise that teaching the young about sexual health will not encourage blatant sexual activity. It will, on the contrary, make children less vulnerable and able to make more informed and responsible decisions about their relationships and sexual behaviour.

The government has to work with agencies like the Federation of Family Planning Association, Malaysian Aids Council and women's groups like All Women's Action Society (Awam) in overhauling the way children are taught about the facts of life, one which includes sex education.

However, the challenge to educate children on sex education will never be tackled by either the government, schools or parents if all three parties are fearful of acknowledging the fact that kids are sexual beings.

HIV/Aids scare

Schools often, when forced to address the issue of sex education by virtue of the rising number of sexually transmitted diseases involving youths and high risk behaviours shown by schoolchildren, tend to impose its own "censorship" in dictating what information can and cannot be shared with children.

NGOs who give talks to children about HIV/Aids and violence against women are forewarned by school heads not to speak about condom use or how babies are made. In short, our schools have decided that children can learn about sex from elsewhere but not while in school. Is this not a paradoxical stand exhibited by our schools?

It is no exaggeration to state that teenage pregnancies and HIV infections in progressively younger age groups are setting off alarm bells among the medical fraternity and the NGO community. What more those who have contracted HIV/Aids through unsafe sex.

The other problem that explains the nonchalant attitude of our policy makers in dealing with the issue of sex education is that sex education is always regarded as less important compared to issues such as dealing with children from dysfunctional homes and trying to enhance the country's literacy rate.

There is no better time than now to start educating our youngsters on the need to refrain from unsafe sex and to make responsible choices.

Also, practicing doctors and trained educators should be encouraged to run workshops on sexual health education. Allow students to attend these workshops, without the participation of their teachers and parents. If children are not comfortable sharing intimate queries with their teachers, schools should take the initiative to bring in outside agencies to talk with the students. It will also help if teachers drop the attitude of "keepers of morality" and overcome inhibitions in discussing sexual issues with students.

Right of information

To worsen matters, the government's policy on HIV/Aids and condom campaign is notoriously perfectionist. There is a refusal to accept the fact that puberty has come forward and marriage has taken a backseat. It is naive to expect youngsters to "postpone" sexual experiences.

The truth of the matter is also that the access to information on sexual health falls within the right of information and right to health (both being fundamental rights), given the risk factors.

International guidelines on HIV/Aids and human rights recommend that states ensure that children and adolescents have adequate access to confidential sexual and reproductive health services including HIV/Aids information, counselling, testing and preventive measures such as condoms.

The recent case of the university student giving birth in her hostel room has led to the much avoided move of institutionalising sex education in schools, colleges and universities.

Issues involving gender, identity, relationships, attitude to sex, pornography etc must all be addressed. Children should be taught to view their physical appearance in a positive manner. Empowering the child with the right information is vital.

After all, it is better to be safe than sorry. The choice is ours!

JJ RAY started her career with a mainstream publication. A non-conformist, she soon saw the barriers that went up whenever, through her writing, she tried to make the world a home for one and all.