New Calls For Sex Ed In UAE Schools

Professionals from both the education and health sectors are calling for sex education to be implemented across UAE schools.

Many professionals feel that schools which opt to ignore the topic can leave children ‘unaware of personal boundaries,’ and even vulnerable to potential sexual assault.

The issue is compounded, says the National, by an Arab culture of silence surrounding all issues related to sex, and therefore it is essential schools cover the subject.

Of concern to many is that it seems the UAE's intrigued children are turning to the internet to find out more.

Grade 9 student, Adam Abdulhameed told the publication, “where does anyone think we will get our information from? Of course, from the internet.”

“Google is where we go, me and all my friends, to find out answers for what we can’t ask about since it’s taboo to talk about sexual topics.”

“Me and my friends would feel much safer taking the information from the people we trust the most - parents and teachers.”

Hiba Mohammed, educational control specialist at the Ministry of Education, told the publication, “there must be many awareness programmes targeting not only children but also parents to prepare parents to have proper answers that are suitable for the ages of their children.”

“We have specialists who draft and determine curriculum, therefore sex education to raise students’ awareness must also be done by specialists,” she went on to say.

The UAE currently has no uniform policy or curriculum on sex education. While some schools choose not to teach the subject at all.

Those that do however, issue letters to parents informing them of the upcoming topic and giving them the option to remove their child from the sex education class. 

Dr Ameena Al Majed, principal of Al Qadisiya School in Abu Dhabi, said she thinks its essential that children learn more than they do now.
“For children, there is mystery surrounding this topic since, in our culture, it’s not allowed to talk about it – we even change the names of their organs and don’t allow our kids to ask about them or touch them as they bathe,” she said.

“Our daughters may know nothing until they get married; that’s why we have to educate them from kindergarten to high school but through an approach that does not jeopardise our traditions and culture, an approach that provides each age group with the information needed at that age.”