RESEARCH JUSTIFICATION

YEAR ONE INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH STUDIES

Research Topic: Health

Chosen Area of Focus: How informed are SST Sec 1 students about the ‘birds and bees’?

Title: A study into SST Sec 1 students’ attitudes towards sex education in school

         1)Framing our research topic

Our chosen area of focus is “How informed are SST Sec 1 students about the ‘birds and bees’? There has been a lot of public attention on the topic sex education in recent years, discussing what need to be taught in the sex education in schools (reference to newspaper reports!). Also, there underage teen pregnancy and STI rates have been increasing at an alarming rate (cite evidence).  

1. Sometimes people will feel taboo when they are taught with sexual edcation.
2. The advantages are students can know who are the people which wants to cheat the females.
3. Some students spend way too much time on their crush.
   
   2)Reasons for choice of topic

We chose the this topic on attitudes whether we are learning enough or too little of sexual education as… because we want to find out if current sex education in schools are comprehensive and adequate enough from the students’ perspective.

1. This is as there has been recent cases of rapists raping younger children and we decided to research on this topic so that we can prevent this. There has also been recent cases of teenage pregnancy and more younger females are falling prey to men. And parents will not get stress and angry.
2. We also chose this topic as with our generation, we have to educate them about the "evilness" of this world and all the possible dangers that we can fall trap into anytime.
3. We also have to teach our generation how to resist temptations and to know when is the right time to take big steps in life. And we should also teach them who are the right people to mix with in life.
   
   3)Feasibility of the research

First Point:

Sexuality Education covers the following dimensions of a person’s sexuality:

• Physical: Physical sexual maturation and intimacy, the physiology of sex and human reproduction;
• Emotional: Sexual attitudes and feelings towards self and others;
• Social: Sexual norms and behaviour and their legal, cultural and societal implications; and
• Ethical: Values and moral systems related to sexuality.

Second Point:

Our youth are growing up in a rapidly changing world, where globalisation and technological advancements expose them to a wide range of influences from around the world.

• Greater Access to Information
• Our youth have access to many sources of information, such as the internet, cable TV and their friends. They are exposed to social norms of other societies and interest groups. Hence, it is important that our youth are able to receive objective and reliable information in schools, as well as guidance from their parents.
• Problems related to Teenage Pregnancies
• Each year, there are about 2,000 teenage pregnancies in Singapore (statistical age group used is 10-19 years). Some abort their pregnancies while others go on to give birth and become teenage mothers. Both groups suffer negative consequences, either from the trauma of abortion or as a single young mother, for which they are ill-equipped.
• Sexual Activity, STIs/HIV among Teenagers
• Teenage pregnancies and the rates of STIs/HIV indicate that some youths are sexually active and are having unprotected sex.
• Third Point:
•  As the Ministry of Education (MOE) rolls out its revised sexuality education curriculum, more teachers will be identified and trained to deliver it. The new curriculum will, among other things, teach children how to protect themselves from "the dangers of social networking", as MOE Guidance Branch Deputy Director Grace Ng put it. Yesterday, MOE unveiled the revised curriculum, which will consist mainly of The Growing Years and Empowered Teens (eTeens) programmes. The Growing Years programme is first conducted for pupils at Primary 5 and will continue through junior college or centralised institutes.It will provide a specific focus for students at the different levels as well as address issues related to media influence, cyber relationships, dating and romantic relationships. According to the MOE, only specially selected teachers whose values align with the ministry's values on sexuality education may teach the Growing Years programme. Under the eTeens programme, students will learn about sexually transmitted infections (STIs), protection from unsafe sex and how to say "no" to pre-marital sex.
• 4)Manageability of the research

1. Yes the task is manageable as it is not very hard to find people who have experience or who have witnessed such experiences and we can find the answers easily.
2. The task will be manageable because the task is possible to break up into small parts and with that we can fulfil the task faster.
3. With many roles and each person contributing we can fulfil the task to the best as we will have a wide variety of ideas and thoughts.
   
   
   5)Accessibility of the information required

  Knowledge that would be relevant

• Information and Surveys from Students
• Information and Surveys from the educators
• Information from the Ministry of Education and Health
• Feedback from the Teachers and Principal

       Primary or Secondary Sources.

We will choose Primary sources as primary sources as more exact and straight to the point. In this research Primary Sources would be essential

      Information to ask others:

How do you feel about the current program being taught in school?

Are there any improvements?

Do you feel the information taught in school is enough, more than enough, less or just right?

       Problems that we may face

Wrong sources of information

Wrong people being asked for information

Using the wrong sources

Not gathering enough data

Not many people are responsive to our questions

People not being honest

REFERENCES

WIKI- http://goo.gl/NhVOk (14/08/2012 TUE 20:35)

MOE- http://goo.gl/8oTYT (14/08/2012 TUE 20:35)

Straits Times- http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/ex-cop-gets-12-weeks-jail-sex-underage-prostitute-20120827 (29-8-12)