Hanoi (VNA) - Public concern is once again inspiring changes to educationprogrammes in schools, with calls for more sex education to be included in thecurriculum so that children can better protect themselves from sexual abuse.

Recentreports of children being sexually abused in different parts of the countryhave highlighted the growing problem.

The Ministry of Labour, Invalidsand Social Affairs (MoLISA) estimates that around 2,000 Vietnamese childrenface violence and abuse annually, of whom 1,200 suffer sexual abuse. Amongthese, more than 13 percent are girls under the age of six.

But the real number of Vietnamesechildren being sexually abused may be much higher, said MoLISA deputy ministerDao Hong Lan.

Education experts have criticisedthe fact that children in Vietnam learn about sex education too late, whichmakes them more vulnerable to abuse.

Dr Vu Thu Huong from the PrimaryEducation Department under Hanoi National University of Education said thatunder the current education programmes, children begin sex education in fifthgrade.

“It’s too late nowadays, as manychildren start puberty early. They experience puberty before being taught aboutsex education, which is supposed to provide them with the understanding andskills to deal with major physical and mental changes they will experienceduring puberty,” she said.

Moreover, sex education inschools is inadequate. Current topics include the reproductive cycle and theformation of the human body, as well as advice on raising children.

Sex education must includeinformation on ejaculation, spermatorrhoea, masturbation, gender identity andespecially advice on how children can protect themselves from and respond tosexual abuse, Huong said.

Many parents and adults usuallyavoid awkward questions about sex from kids, which may lead children toconsider such topics taboo. Ultimately, children facing problems may remainsilent instead of alerting others.

“Sex education must be madeavailable for children aged three to 16, covering a range of complicatedsubjects depending on the age of the child,” she said, adding that adequateeducation could help children recognise threats of sexual abuse and be able toinform parents as soon as they feel they are in an uncomfortable situation.

Lecturer Pham Thanh Nam from theUniversity of Education under Hanoi National University, said that in school,children are taught about the reproductive system rather than a healthyattitude to sex.

From the age of three, childrenbegin to ‘explore’ their bodies, and this is the time for families and teachersto provide them with information so that children can form a healthyunderstanding about sex, which will in turn help protect them from abuse.

Le Thi Lan Anh, head of Hanoi-basedInstitute for Research on Educational Development, said that sex education wasnormally taught in biology class and teachers had not received proper training.

Teachers often felt ashamed orembarrassed when talking to children about sex. The curriculum was disjointed,resulting in children failing to understand why a boy’s voice breaks or girlsmenstruate.

Ngo Thi Thanh, principal of Nam TuLiem Primary School in Hanoi said that in her school sex education wasintegrated in classes on morality, life skills or extra-curricular activities.

The school organised outdooractivities and invited healthcare workers to talk to fourth and fifth gradersabout sex education.

Ta Ngoc Tri, vice head of thePrimary Education Department under the Ministry of Education and Training, saidthat sex education was regulated as part of extra-curricular activities atschools from primary to high schools.

In 2014, the ministry issued acircular on life skills education which also included sex education andencouraged schools to develop child abuse prevention programmes.

Professor Nguyen Minh Thuyet,chief editor of the National Education Programme said that the new programmewould pay more attention to sex education.

Sex education could be directlytaught in biology class, legal knowledge or integrated into literature classes.

“To protect children from childabuse, teaching sex education at schools is not enough,” Thuyet said, emphasingthe role of the family. In many cases, children suffered abuse from familymembers.

While waiting for the neweducation programme to be implemented next year, schools agree that teachersshould receive more training on sex education.-VNA