BEIJING, March 21 -- Shanghai, the largest metropolis of China, finished a five-year international sex education program on Monday, local health officials was quoted as saying by Shanghai Daily.

¡¡
Two female middle school students look at a board showing sex-related antiques at a March Sex Knowledge Exhibition in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (newsphoto/file photo)

    The paper said on Tuesday that it was the first time the city worked with international agencies to provide sex education to students and single workers.

    Shanghai was one of 12 provinces and municipalities that took part in the program launched by Chinese health authorities and the U.S.-based Program for Appropriate Technology in Health.

    The American organization provided funding and expertise to help local officials set up the program, which was aimed at youngsters aged between 10 and 24.

    "By 2005, the program had covered 167 neighborhoods, 296 companies, 595 middle schools and 8 universities," said Xie Lingli, director of the Shanghai Population and Family Planning Committee. "We gave courses, educational pamphlets and services to more than 340,000 students, 90,000 unmarried young workers and 20,000 parents."

    In addition to courses, the city also set up hotlines providing sex information, service centers for pregnant girls, Websites for online consultation and 601 service spots providing consultation and education about reproductive issues.

    "Migrant people also benefited from our program. We gave lectures and received a good response," Xie said.

    Migrant parents and children were given courses together in an attempt to teach parents how to talk to their kids about puberty and sex.

    Officials said the biggest concerns for young workers are pregnancy and contraception, unsafe sex and sexual development.

(Source: Shanghai Daily)