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

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 US-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.

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