Government won't interfere in AWARE saga

By S Ramesh/Cheryl Lim, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 26 April 2009 1900 hrs

SINGAPORE: The government has no intention of intervening in the saga involving AWARE (Association of Women for Action and Research). 

Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Vivian Balakrishnan, said this on the sidelines of his visit to Nee Soon South on Sunday. 

The problems facing AWARE are not a national one, so it is best for the organisation to settle them democratically and according to its constitution. 

But still, the minister feels that Singaporeans can learn some lessons from the AWARE saga. The first is not to let a single issue hijack an organisation's agenda. 

Dr Balakrishnan said: "There will always be some issues where you cannot get everybody to agree. We need to be able to learn to live and let live, to agree to disagree, and to do so agreeably. But don't let these single issues polarise or divide us and become the be-all and end-all of your social activism or your organisation." 

The minister also emphasised that it is important for all Singaporeans to remember and also remain sensitive to the fact that they are living in a multi-racial and multi-religious society. 

That's another lesson that must be learnt from the AWARE episode. So it is important for organisations to keep religion above the fray of petty politics. 

Dr Balakrishnan said: "We want to protect and nurture the special place religion has in our society. We don't want our religious organisations to be compromised or be damaged by the hurly-burly of politicking which appears on the ground. It is not a good idea." 

Lastly, Dr Balakrishnan said, if organisations want to make meaningful change to Singapore society, they must ensure representation from all segments which constitute the group. 

He said there are many more challenges facing Singapore and women. It would be good to focus on them and not get distracted. 

Separately, Law Minister K Shanmugam also said it is for the members of AWARE to sort out their problems. 

He said the Societies Act clearly spells out how associations should conduct their affairs and the association's constitution also regulates arrangements between members. 

He said: "The rules are all clear and one assumes that they will act according to the law and to their own internal constitution. I think it's premature to comment on what we might or might not do. We don't really get involved in this. It is for the members to sort it out." 

- CNA/ir 

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/425035/1/.html

CONTROVERSY

The Electric New Paper : Tussle For Aware

26 April 2009

By Liew Hanqing

'Girls told how to say no to sex'

Aware's school sexuality programme told children it's okay to be gay, say its new leaders. But what was really being taught in schools? Teachers and parents also give their views

ONE of his students was taunted, bullied and called a 'bapok' (effeminate) by his schoolmates.

This incident prompted Alex, a secondary school teacher, to seek help in educating students on the social aspects of sex and sexuality.

So he called Aware.

Alex declined to be named because teachers are not allowed to speak to the press without permission.

The secondary school in the East where Alex teaches is among the 12 schools here which run Aware's Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) programme.

The programme has been questioned by Aware's new leadership. Members are unhappy that it seems to promote in schools the message that homosexuality is acceptable.

In an ice-breaker activity used in the programme, students are advised that words such as 'homosexual', 'pre-marital' and 'anal sex' are considered neutral - neither positive nor negative.

Said Alex: 'The issue is not how these words are being classified. The important thing is educating students that homosexuality is something real and that they should not look down on somebody just because he or she is homosexual.'

He added that it was important that sexuality education programmes should discourage indiscriminate sexual experimentation among students.

Alex said the programme is pitched at Secondary 2 students at his school, many of whom are from the Normal (Technical) stream.

He said such programmes are necessary because students are beginning to experiment with sex at a much younger age than before.

He said: 'In the past, smoking was what kids used to experiment with at Sec2. Now, it's sex.'

Alex said female students who had attended the CSE programme had told him they were told how to say 'no' to sex. They also went through hands-on activities like learning to use a condom.

He added that the speakers did not delve much into the issue of homosexuality. Male students and teachers were also not allowed to attend the talk for girls.

Alex said he felt sexuality education programmes - regardless of who runs them - are important for students at a young age.

In the past five years alone, more than 20 of his students have had abortions, he said.

He said: 'Students need to be educated on the consequences of their actions and to know that even if they do get into a bad situation, there is a way out.'

But Mr Koh Yong Chiah, principal of Jurong Junior College, feels differently.

Eastern values

He told The New Paper: 'Ultimately, Singapore is still a society that follows Eastern moral values.

'From a human rights perspective, I am not against it (homosexuality), but I feel it is not right to tell students in school that homosexuality is okay.'

He added, however, that it is acceptable to educate students against stopping people from being in homosexual relationships.

Another secondary school teacher took a more moderate stand, suggesting that the programme be targeted at older students, who are 'more ready to discuss and learn about sexuality issues'.

She said that many schools - including her own - now run sexuality workshops for Sec2 students, in tandem with their sex education curriculum.

She said: 'But learning about the biological aspect of sex is different from learning about sexuality and its social implications.

'I would be apprehensive about telling teenagers to take a stand about homosexuality at such a young age.'

She added that it would, however, be a good move to equip teachers with the necessary counselling skills should students approach them to talk about issues related to sex and homosexuality.

Parents The New Paper spoke to had mixed responses to the CSE programme.

Ms Doreen Pang, 44, who has a 17-year-old son, said she 'would not accept' school sexuality programmes which consider homosexuality acceptable.

She said in Mandarin: 'I believe the schools should still educate students on traditional family values.

'Homosexuality is something that cannot be changed, but schools should not be telling children that it is okay.'

Another parent, Mr Leonard Wee, 45, who has a daughter in Sec3, said he had nothing against students being educated on homosexuality.

He said: 'It's very real, and we can't just pretend it doesn't exist. Classifying certain buzz words as 'neutral' isn't going to tip straight students over the edge and turn them gay.

'The most important thing is that students are taught how to behave responsibly when it comes to sex and that they know what they are getting themselves into.'

http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,200047,00.html?

MADAM WARY

The Electric New Paper : Tussle For Aware

26 April 2009

By Ng Tze Yong

Her steely front cracked for an instant

How could she let the takeover happen on her watch? Ex-Aware president 

Constance Singam spoke on trust, friendships and betrayal.

THERE was almost an aura about her.

Of the panel of veterans, Ms Constance Singam, six-time president and the outgoing president at the time of the takeover, looked the most distinguished.

But halfway through the press conference, that steely front finally cracked.

How do you feel about the takeover which took place under your watch, she was asked.

Ms Singam stepped right up to the plate, beginning her answer steadily, saying: 'I think it is the responsibility of all members....'

She talked about trust and respect, Aware's fundamental values.

As she spoke, she reflected on her 25 years at Aware, and the friendships she has forged.

'It's a form of respect and trust,' she said as her voice started to crack, 'which is for me, the most devastating, traumatic problem that I felt on the day of the takeover... the lack of trust, the injustice of it all.'

The room broke out into nervous laughter.

'You asked me the wrong question,' said Ms Singam, to more laughter.

She continued in a quivering voice: 'I grew in Aware. And I know what is to be an Aware member, and that is what's the saddest part of it. That trust is gone.'

At the sight of Ms Singam breaking down in tears, the other exco members jumped in.

One quipped to laughter: 'I think you are making all of us teary.'

Upsetting

Former president Dana Lam explained:

'It takes a lot of your time and your time from your family to contribute to society... that's why it is so upsetting that the heads of the sub-committees were replaced.'

Added former president Kanwaljit Soin, her own voice quivering: 'Probably what brought it on was that the old guard was too trusting... and that was why there was no need to be in power...'

'We always welcomed new blood, and when new blood arrived, we didn't know that this was a concerted attempt to run Aware differently.'

http://www.tnp.sg/news/story/0,4136,200051,00.html?STATE_STK=100001&SUBSTATE_STK=1&NEXTSTATE=&NEXTSUBSTATE=