Myriads of debates have already been raised on appropriate age of introducing sexuality education in schools. Countries have their own principles; some do not even have sex education in school curriculum, Nepal has it from 15 years, while UK plans to start it at 4 years old.  Whatever the age be, challenges lie at both ends, driven by socio cultural circumstances.

For instance, Nepal has a reason here. When the sex education curriculum for schools was launched for the first time around 10 years back after tearing apart several challenges of political commitment, the challenges had only begun. Teachers hesitated to teach those chapters; in several schools the chapters were omitted, yet in some the chapter was taught in women festival day, when no girls attended the schools. Even in private urban schools, the chapter was read out, but not explained. The common justification put forth is that even at times when sex was not taught in class, people still knew about sex and as such, children will learn about it themselves, and that teaching them at such young age is merely stimulating them.

Dear teachers, in Nepal, 10.72% get married before 20 years and 50 % are already mothers by the time you teach them about family planning in text books. By 15, girls and boys already know more than what is mentioned in the text books through the porn, and you still say it is too young? Newspapers often cover news of adolescents committing suicide after their parents find them watching porn, or exchanging porn in class. How can you say that teaching them these stuffs at 15 is merely stimulating them in young age?

Well, I am not going to start a debate again regarding the correct age of marriage or sex again. Actually, I differ in the point that a child should be taught sex education immediately at school. Well, for me, sex education should begin at home, with parents, even before formal schooling. Well, our society still offends on parent children communication regarding sex, and what to teach a 4 year old child? But, even sex education should be age specific.

Anyways, I am not mentioning to tell a 4 year old child about the “actual” sex. What you teach a 4 year old is not something you teach a 16 year old. You are not trying to scare them!! But come on, at least he or she can be taught that babies develop inside mom and that man and woman have different organs. Well, my 6 year old brother was shocked when his mother took him and his cousin sister to the same public toilet, where he for the first time noticed that his sister does not have a faucet like his!!! Who says a 4 year old does not have queries?  If a kid watches television at 4, you will definitely not disagree that he or she will be exposed to intimate scenes, if not directly exposed to porn, and he will definitely have question there. Never avoid them, but answer them, if not in details, but at least very basic facts. Remember, more true you are at this age, the more they will start to trust you, which will help your bonding lifelong.

At least at the age of 7, a person can be taught that other touching your private part is not good. Again, a ten year can be told about rapes and molesters. Body organs and basic puberty processes should be explained at the age of 10 and no later. Do not let children freak out seeing changes in themselves. Sex education is not just about avoiding pregnancy, but also about avoiding infections, and also being able to report queries. At 12, perhaps they could be taught about sex organs and functions, the age when it will not sound too technical.

Teaching at home is lot more tailored than teaching at school. But again, peer sharing is very important, and a child may feel more comfortable asking questions in school, thinking that everyone is similar. But when most of the youngsters today know what a condom is, know where to wear it, but do not know how to wear it correctly to prevent tearing or prevent conception. One who knows can teach them. Parents do not necessarily demonstrate condom in homes, schools can be help then.

With time, passing generation and new media, the trend is also changing. Earlier generation cannot brand new generation as directionless. Come on, this is the change. So we need not go by what most parents say that sex education is not needed and that people naturally learn to learn.

Everyone has the right to know how their body functions, and no age is too young for it.