A gap in sex education?

TPO - The incident of two 9th-grade students throwing the remains of a fetus in an empty field has sparked much discussion and raised questions about the role of schools and social organizations.

TPO - The incident of two 9th-grade students throwing the remains of a fetus in an empty field has sparked much discussion and raised questions about the role of schools and social organizations.

The place where the fetus was abandoned in an empty field. Photo: Lao Dong Newspaper.

The case of two ninth-grade students in Ho Chi Minh City abandoning their fetuses in an empty plot of land has shocked public opinion. Besides raising many questions about the responsibility of families and schools in sex education for children, Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thanh Nam – Vice Rector of the University of Education – acknowledges this as a very heartbreaking and regrettable incident that forces us to re-examine serious gaps in sex education; in the parent-child relationship; and ineffective functioning of the social support system for adolescents.

Associate Professor Nam analyzed that, from the perspective of sex education, we have invested in it, but it lacks consistency, a systematic approach, and sustainability. It's only implemented when an issue arises, otherwise other issues are prioritized.

"Education is essentially delayed compared to children's developmental age, heavily theoretical, and lacking in practical application. In my experience, many schools focus only on biological knowledge, lacking practical lessons on emotions, responsibility, and understanding the law in handling situations," Associate Professor Nam shared.

At home, parents generally still view this as a sensitive issue, avoiding discussing it or mentioning it in a threatening way, causing students to essentially not discuss it with their parents but instead seek information on dark websites.

"We need to quickly implement comprehensive lessons and disseminate them to students earlier; integrating content on what constitutes healthy friendship, what constitutes healthy love; what boundaries should be maintained and their negative consequences; and issues of legal and emotional responsibility tailored to each age group," Mr. Nam said.

According to Mr. Nam, AI-integrated lectures will create an open environment for students to ask questions and seek advice scientifically without judgment. At the same time, they will present many real-life scenarios and how students need to react and handle dangerous situations such as abuse, unwanted pregnancy, or emotional manipulation—things that are difficult to address in a traditional educational setting due to the reluctance of those involved.

Where was the family?

Also related to this issue, Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thanh Nam said that many people will be shocked because they don't understand where the family and parents were when a 9th-grade student became pregnant and gave birth at home without being recognized.

Why would a ninth-grade student hide her pregnancy for nine months? And how could she successfully conceal it when there would certainly be signs of weight gain, fatigue, prolonged mood swings, and other physiological changes associated with pregnancy?

"Is it due to the busyness and neglect of the whole family? If so, this is also a form of violence. It's cold violence/neglectful violence, with the student as the victim. And we need to consider handling the case, including the perpetrators of the violence," Mr. Nam said.

On February 5th, residents discovered the body of a fetus in an empty plot of land on Nguyen Huu Dat Street, Tay Thanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, and immediately reported it to the authorities. Upon receiving the report, the Tan Phu District Police arrived to gather information, transport the body to the morgue, and promptly investigate the case.

The Tan Phu District Police have identified the two perpetrators as 9th-grade students. It is known that after becoming pregnant and giving birth at home, realizing the child was no longer breathing, the two students threw the body into an empty plot of land.

Do Hop

Source: https://tienphong.vn/hoc-sinh-lop-9-nem-thi-the-thai-nhi-o-bai-dat-trong-lo-hong-giao-duc-gioi-tinh-post1716427.tpo