Is ignorance, not knowledge, the root of harm in sex education?

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Ignorance, not knowledge, is portrayed as the root of harm in sex education

The view presented is that ignorance, rather than knowledge, causes harm in sex education. It argues that resistance to comprehensive sex education is often based on the belief that learning about sex will lead young people to have sex, but it points instead to ignorance and unresolved curiosity as drivers behind problems such as unwanted pregnancies and baby dumping.
JHEAT actions and the limits of separating couples
The discussion cites enforcement by JHEAT in Terengganu, where 54 unmarried couples were nabbed for riding on motorbikes. JHEAT Commissioner Datuk Wan Mohd Wan Ibrahim advised unmarried couples to refrain from sitting closely, saying such an act could lead to sexual intercourse and children out of wedlock, and JHEAT later indicated it may also catch couples in cars. The argument is that keeping men and women apart in this way has not effectively prevented societal ills like unwanted pregnancies and baby dumping.
PT3 condom question controversy and the fear of knowledge
The piece also points to a PT3 examination controversy involving a condom-related question, where some people were upset about a student’s answer being marked wrong and others were angered that the question paper asked about condoms. PIBGN president Prof Madya Datuk Dr Mohamad Ali Hassan said the question was unsuitable for 15-year-olds because it would encourage students to search online for information about condoms. The underlying framing is that treating contraception knowledge as harmful is part of the broader reluctance to discuss sex education openly.
Comprehensive sex education content is framed as protective
Sex education is described as not being about giving permission to have sex, but about teaching the human body, reproduction, hazards of unsafe sex, and unwanted pregnancies. It also says the focus includes the mental, emotional, and social aspects of puberty. Within that framing, providing accurate information is presented as a way to reduce sexually transmitted diseases and the number of babies thrown away by irresponsible adolescents.
Unwanted pregnancies and baby dumping are linked to unresolved curiosity
The argument links high numbers of unwanted pregnancies and baby dumping cases to a refusal to discuss sex education comprehensively. It states that the main reason teachers and parents avoid such discussions is cultural upbringing rather than religion, and it asserts that ignorance and unresolved curiosity—not knowledge—are what cause harm. It also describes a cycle in which adults treat sex as taboo and pass that mindset to their children, reinforcing ignorance over time.

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Is ignorance, not knowledge, the root of harm in sex education?

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