GEORGE TOWN: The Education Ministry (MOE) will incorporate the Reproductive and Social Health Education (PEERS) module into the 2027 school curriculum to address the rising number of teenage pregnancies in the country, said Minister Fadhlina Sidek. She mentioned that this decision has received approval from the Ministry of Women, Family, and Community Development (KPWKM), and emphasized the importance of cross-ministry collaboration to tackle this issue. According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fadhlina highlighted the shared concerns of MOE and KPWKM regarding out-of-wedlock pregnancies and stressed the focus on educational agendas related to reproductive health. She noted ongoing advocacy programs addressing reproductive health issues, including joint initiatives with KPWKM to combat sexual harassment, promote girls' health, and educate on safe and inappropriate touches. These programs are actively implemented at the MOE level. Fadhlina further explained that the PEERS module aims to empower teachers and student s with essential information on these issues. The module will be integrated into the Health Education curriculum from preschool to secondary school, providing students with information and skills, particularly psychosocial competencies, to make informed decisions in their daily lives. Previously, Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri expressed concerns about teenage pregnancies, child marriages, baby dumping, and unsafe abortions in the country. She cited Health Ministry data indicating 44,263 cases of teenage pregnancies recorded over the past five years, with 17,646 cases involving unmarried teenagers. In another development, Fadhlina urged school counsellors to play a vital role in advising students and encouraging them to choose the STEM stream. She mentioned that the MOE has conducted intervention sessions between school counsellors and STEM industry players to ensure they have up-to-date information to share with students. The USM STEM Week featured participation f rom the university's 15 STEM schools across three campuses, along with six collaborators. A total of 350 lecturers and graduate and postgraduate students conducted various interactive STEM-themed activities with 600 students from over 30 schools in Penang.