China may well have been criticized for depriving children of sex education in the past. But a mother from Hangzhou in southern China went online to say sex-ed in schools lately has gotten too graphic and inappropriate for her second-grade daughter. The online dispute has turned viral within China, bringing the subject of sex education center stage.

A series of textbooks called "Cherish Life – A Sexual Education Textbook for Elementary Students" covers a variety of sexuality and relationship issues, including reproduction, sexual abuse, gender issues, homosexuality and safe sex. 

Professor Li Jinzhao from Beijing Foreign Studies University described it as “the best available textbook on sexuality education in China” to CGTN’s “The Point with Liu Xin” (@thepointwithlx). However, she said since today’s parents did not receive any sexual education in their childhood, the generation gap could cause them concerns. Li Hongyan, the National Program Officer from UNESCO’s Beijing Office, said the textbooks had been developed in line with national policy and refer to the International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education. Topics under fire in the textbooks were set to be age-appropriate based on the Guidance. Sex education today covers not only physical and biological aspects, but also emotional and social ones. 

Professor Li concluded from her research that due to embarrassment about talking about sex to their children and the lack of proper training, families prefer schools to take over most of their responsibilities of educating children about sex. Most parents can place their trust in experts who have carried out research on the issue. Additionally, without a scientific sexual health curriculum, turning to the internet for help may expose children to great danger. Li Hongyan added that school and parents should work in partnership. Schools should reach out to parents to involve them in discussions. At the same time, society should be encouraged to react to scientific information and raise the awareness that the fears of keeping children away from the topic are unnecessary. 

Making her last point, Liu Xin concluded that the textbook is a big step forward; however, only when taking local cultural and religious sensitivities into consideration can schools build a solid partnership with parents to advance sexual education more smoothly.