Although badminton may seem innocent enough, Hong Kong’s Education Bureau has unwittingly given it a whole new significance.
In teaching materials it released last week, a module titled adolescents and intimate relationships for Secondary Year 3, suggested that teenagers who wanted to have sex with each other could “go out to play badminton together” instead.
The materials also include a form called” My Commitment” aimed at getting “young lovers” to attest that they would excercise” self-discipline, self-control, and resistance to pornography”.
The new supplies have sparked controversy and received censure for being “out of touch.” But authorities have defended the selection.
However, there are a lot of jokes about “playing basketball” on social media.
” FWB] Friends with benefits ]?? Associates with badminton”, read one post on Instagram that had more than 1, 000 wants.
“In English: Netflix and chill? In Cantonese, play badminton together?” read another Facebook post which was shared more than 500 times.
Yet Tse Ying Suet, a basketball player at the Olympics, was unable to avoid making a comment.
” People is making an appointment to play basketball. Is anyone really into basketball”? She emailed a smirky experience icon on Fibers.
For some people it was also about the logistics.
Doreen Kong, a member of the MPs ‘ group, claimed that the records demonstrated that the education ministry did not comprehend young persons. She particularly criticized the sport idea as being ridiculous.
How could they get a basketball ball right away? She asked.
The jokes and rapid increase in interest in the sport have made it somewhat uncomfortable for players like Thomas Tang, who is an amateur basketball gamer.
” In the past, this was just a good sport, but now if you ask people to play basketball, they make a lot of gags,” he said, adding that the humor was that basketball was actually a good way for people to join ladies.
Additionally, according to the Education Bureau files, teachers were informed that one of the modules ‘ goals was to teach students how to deal with sexual fantasies and feelings, and that it was not intended to motivate them to start dating or engage in sexual behavior.
The documents also contain suggestions for discussion topics like “firmly reject sex before marriage” if students are unable to deal with the” consequences of premarital sex” and “dress properly to present a wholesome image and avoid visual stimulation from sexy clothing.
Christine Choi, the minister of knowledge, has remained unwavering despite all the criticism.
In an interview on Sunday, she said,” We want to protect the youngsters,” adding that having sex with an young person is against the law.
Although there may be a wide range of opinions on knowledge, the government plays a “leading role in determining the kind of world it aims to build,” according to city president John Lee.
But to Henry Chan, a parents of a 13-year-old woman and 10-year-old son, these efforts are crazy.
” The Hong Kong government is always out of effect.” They are making a foolish of themselves”, he said.
” My wife and I will probably do that ]sex education ] ourselves. I would n’t rely on the government or schools to do that.