Educational policies to 'remain anchored on prevailing family values, social norms' including man-and-woman marriage
SINGAPORE — Educational policies and curriculum will remain anchored on prevailing family values and social norms, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said on Monday (Aug 22) in response to the Government’s intention to repeal Section 377A of the Penal Code.

SINGAPORE — Educational policies and curriculum will remain anchored on prevailing family values and social norms, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said on Monday (Aug 22) in response to the Government’s intention to repeal Section 377A of the Penal Code.
The majority of Singaporeans want to uphold these values and norms, which include “the family as the cornerstone of our social fabric, and marriage between a man and a woman”, MOE added.
These remarks came after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced in his annual National Day Rally on Sunday evening that the Government will repeal Section 377A, which penalises sex between men.
In his speech, Mr Lee said that the Government has no intention of changing national policies that rely upon the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman, whether it be policies relating to public housing, education, adoption of children, advertising standards, film classification and others.
MOE said in its statement that schools and institutions of higher learning “must remain safe spaces for the pursuit of knowledge, and not become places for advocacy or contestation on socially divisive issues”.
The ministry added: “Singapore’s family and social norms must continue to be determined by Singaporeans.
"Foreign institutions and foreigners should respect these norms, and not use our educational institutions as platforms for their own agendas.”
Sex education classes will also remain secular, based on traditional values, and “sensitive to the multiracial and multi-religious make-up of our society”, MOE said.
The ministry then cautioned that bullying and cancel culture must not take root in Singapore’s educational institutions and society.
"All students will learn and practice values such as mutual understanding, respect, and empathy for everyone.
“Our educational institutions will continue to partner parents to guide our children, and provide counselling and socio-emotional support to all students according to their needs,” MOE said.
Earlier on Monday, the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) said that media content on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons will "continue to warrant higher age ratings", with MCI stating that it is also taking reference from prevailing social norms.