Preventing Youths from Purchasing Sexual Services

Mr Zaqy Mohamad asked the Acting Minister for Education (Schools) whether it has plans to address the increasing trend of youths purchasing sexual services in Singapore and abroad.

Recent newspaper reports based on a study on adolescents having sex with sex workers in Singapore may have given the misimpression that there is an increasing trend for all youths. The study did not demonstrate such a trend and was not designed to do so.

The participants for the study were adolescents seeking treatment at the Department of Sexually Transmitted Infections Control Clinic. It was not a time-trend study of a representative sample of the youth population in Singapore. Nonetheless, the issue raised by the Member and the study about youth sexuality are important and should be taken seriously.

The Ministry of Education's current Sexuality Education programme already has elements to mitigate youth paying for sexual services. The programme seeks to equip all students with knowledge, skills and attitudes to: (a) understand their physiological, social and emotional changes as they mature; (b) develop healthy and rewarding relationships; and (c) make wise, informed and responsible decisions on sexuality matters. This includes information about sexuality transmitted infections and how one can be protected from them.

Schools also provide additional support, such as one-to-one counselling, to students at risk of sexual experimentation or are already engaging in sexual activity. As parents play a key role in sexuality education, schools will also engage parents to discuss joint intervention plans. Where required, schools will engage community partners and external agencies with specialised expertise.