The Importance of Sex Education in Indonesia

“The Importance of Sex Education in Indonesia”

Nowadays, Indonesia is facing an intense period of development, those in terms of economic, politic and socio- cultural development. One aspect of social change marked in Indonesia is related to sex. Teenagers and young people are changing their attitudes, ideas and behaviors in relation to sex. A number of associated social problems have emerged such as high rates of unplanned teen’s pregnancy, high rates of transmission of Sexually Transmitted Infections including HIV/AIDS, and a general lack of understanding about sex. These aspects reveal a lack of a sufficient Sexual and Reproductive Health Education program across schools of Indonesia.

Sex education has always been a controversial aspect of education and has carried on numerous changes due to the dispute surrounding it. The debates over sex education have been prominent in schools throughout the country. Moreover, sex become more visible to youth via a more open media targeted at teens in particular. Thus, the sex education conflict was born and has remained strong to this day. Many people feared that information and beliefs derived from vulgar or commercial sources might be inaccurate or encourage promiscuity. Education had the power to either confuse and corrupt students, or enlighten them. For this reason, even the most enthusiastic sex educators expressed reluctance about teaching sex.

School environment is one institution in society that has actually the opportunity to reach a large part of Indonesian’s youth. Although a significant number of Indonesian’s youth does not reach this such formal education, for example they are who live either in the workforce or on the streets. Nevertheless, schools still have a great role to play in protecting today’s youth with knowledge including sex education.

However, it is clearly seen that few schools are taking advantage of this opportunity and most are providing limited Sexual and Reproductive Health Education. With little support or guidance from the government, schools provide what information they see fit, largely influenced by the religious and societal norms surrounding the school. As a result, sex Education in Indonesia is limited, with a focus on the biological side of reproductive health.

The topic of sex in general is still regarded as somewhat taboo in Indonesia, and is not generally discussed in clear terms. However, this is an attitude that is changing with time. Students today are having necessity of Sex Education. While significantly different than their parent’s generation, Indonesian youth of today are limited in holding religious values. In relation to Sexual and Reproductive Health, the students are enthusiastic to have more access to knowledge, provided by schools as a trusted source of information and provided in their external source surroundings. If such information unavailable in schools, youth will likely to go to the mass media such as internet and various popular pornographic materials for such information.

Meanwhile, the open source of internet as informal source offers largely information to us about many things. The impact of it can be endangering teenagers who are mistaken in absorbing it unlimited information. In related to sex education, internet or other visible media usually give more vulgar information about sex.  In addition, students who have huge curiosity concerning to sex education will use this kind of uncontrolled media to get all information they need.

Hence, to reduce the bad effect of students learning sex out of control, the material on the subject of formal sex education in school need to be improved based on right curriculum. Teachers are demanded to be active in giving such kind of information to make clear student’s perception regarding the understanding about sex including the danger of free sex and Sexual Transmitted Infections including HIV/AIDS.

Thus, in response to the growing sexuality in the culture, it needs to make a comprehensive sex education curriculum that focus on self-control but provide students with information about contraception, pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and other controversial topics. Furthermore, it expects to hold to the belief that youth need to completely inform about sex to make wise decisions.

* The writer is a student of English Department, Faculty of Letters and Fine Arts,

Sebelas March University

Ikha Oktavianti