Comprehensive and age-appropriate sex education should begin as early as seven years old to help prevent sexual crimes against children and teenagers, says G. Suriakumari, Manager of the The Children’s Protection Society (CPS).
She explained that effective sex education should go beyond biology, encompassing topics such as the concept of consent, gender boundaries, and awareness of laws and penalties related to underage sexual offences.
According to her, this education should come from families, schools, and be reinforced through government and non-governmental organization (NGO) programs.
“The content must be tailored to suit each age group,” she told Sinar Harian. “However, much of the current curriculum is too superficial and lacks depth.”
Suriakumari added that sexual crimes often stem from two main factors — insufficient sex education and unsupervised internet use. She urged schools and education departments to reduce dependence on online learning and return to physical classrooms, as was practiced before the COVID-19 era.
“Families should not treat this topic as taboo,” she said. “Parents and guardians must create an open environment where children feel comfortable discussing such issues. From an early age, children should learn the correct names for body parts instead of nicknames.”
She also emphasized that parents should spend quality time with their children, know who they interact with, where they go outside school or home, and monitor their activities.
In addition, she advised that unsupervised internet use should be avoided until at least the age of 17. “Children should also be encouraged to join group activities, as social skills play a crucial role in building self-confidence,” she added.
