The Guangzhou Education Bureau is responding to proposals submitted by members of the city People's Congress by launching new courses about sex and health in all primary and middle schools and also in some kindergartens.

Earlier this year, members of the Guangdong Province capital city's People's Congress called on the local government and educational departments to teach school students more about sex and health at an earlier age.

"The numbers of students who have premarital sexual activities and schoolgirls who have induced abortions are increasing now," said Liao Chan, a deputy of the city's People's Congress.

Liao, also a medical doctor, added that girls under the age of 20 account for 15 percent of the total number of women who have abortions.

"Sex and health education in the students' early years is necessary. We have even seen 13-year-olds having abortions," said Liao.

Some students interviewed said they learned about sex through such sources as pornographic websites, videos and books, according to a survey.

"Sex knowledge from those sources is not as systematic and complete as that of textbooks, so correct guidance for people during puberty is crucial for them to better understand sex and prevent them from getting abortions or having early sexual activities," said Guo Ningbo, of the local education bureau.

In early April, the bureau chose 41 schools -- 15 middle schools, 13 primary and 13 kindergartens -- as experimental schools for teaching the program. The goal is to put sex education on the official teaching agenda, in a bid to dampen curiosity and inform young students. In the past, a number of schools have complained that it is difficult to arrange classes on sex and health during the students' study time since they have more than 10 other courses per semester.

The local education bureau, together with the health department, has recently issued a new textbook about sex and health.

Unlike previous courses, which focused mainly on human anatomy, the new textbooks include sensitive issues such as masturbation. The bureau also plans to improve teaching methods regarding sex and health to ensure the quality of education.

In addition to sex education, the bureau plans to hire special psychologists for schools starting this year.

(China Daily July 19, 2004)