Over half of the Asia-Pacific countries surveyed teach sexuality education in some form as a mandatory subject. However, it is often integrated into other subjects. It is recommended that school-based comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) is taught as a mandatory and stand-alone subject. When sexuality education is optional, a significant number of young people are at risk of missing the opportunity to receive education on their sexuality.
In nearly half of the countries surveyed, age-appropriate sexuality education is not introduced to young people in early childhood. Children should also receive age-appropriate CSE from early primary, and before the onset of puberty and sexual activity, and education should continue throughout adolescence and adulthood.
None of the countries in Asia and the Pacific cover all the eight concepts outlined in The International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education (ITGSE) sufficiently. At both primary and secondary levels, schools should cover all eight key concepts in the ITGSE in an age-appropriate manner and in-depth.