At lunchtime at the Fudan University canteen, dozens of students lingered in front of exhibition boards, watching publicity cartoons.

But when scribes of in-house school newsletters tried to approach, they fled - red with embarrassment.

The reason: the exhibits were themed "Health of Sex and Reproduction," part of a weeklong campus scientific exhibition on sex education.

The exhibition, which closed early this month, was the first time Fudan had offered sex education material in public places, officials said yesterday.

Altogether 120 boards were put up at Fudan's north campus canteen, show-casing sexual health know-ledge during adolescence, marriage, pregnancy and other life periods through cartoon characters spouting dialogues, they added.

"Actually, the event was quite a hit, but many students just didn't want to be caught visiting such an exhibition," said Huang Lili, a health-care official at Fudan.

She added some interested students only threw furtive glances at the boards when eating while others, too embarrassed to watch in front of large crowds, would visit after dining hours.

Besides, the university also set up a letterbox for students to leave messages about sex-related issues.

But there was no response, university officials said.

"Though we really need to know about sex, nobody is brave enough to ask for it openly," said a sophomore named Luo.

According to Luo, the only sex education he has received is health-care lessons in high school. The adolescent education given separately to male and female students was "very superficial."

So many students turned to the Internet and some other media to satisfy their curiosity, Luo said.

But sexual materials offered online are akin to pornography rather than real knowledge, which can be very dangerous for students, Huang said.

So far, only three local universities - Fudan, Jiao Tong and Tongji - have special offices to offer sexual health consultation for students and faculty members.

Occasional exhibitions and lectures seem to be the only means of sex education in universities.

But the rising abortion rate among university students as well as increasing sales at condom-vending machines on campus indicate the necessity of proper sex edu-cation in colleges, officials said.

"If educated people can form a correct attitude toward sex, we will do better in secure sex and healthy repro-duction," said Xie Lingli, director of the Shanghai Population and Family Planning Commission.

Close

Today's Top News		Top Lifestyle News
+Shenzhou V blasts off into space at 9:00am ( 2003-10-14) +CPC meeting sets out reform goals ( 2003-10-14) +New Oriental appeals for ruling ( 2003-10-14) +New measures cut bureaucracy in Guangdong ( 2003-10-15) +Nation steps up vigilance against landslides ( 2003-10-14)		+Eat and drink in inner Mongolia ( 2003-10-14) +Exhibits 'embarrassing' ( 2003-10-15) +Smorgasbord of musical magic ( 2003-10-15) +Dancers dazzle on Shanghai stage ( 2003-10-15) +Splendid skyline. Do you feel something sinking? ( 2003-10-14)