Education Minister Dr. Mahendra Reddy says they are now considering the inclusion of sex education in the curriculum at primary school level.

Reddy says this is in response to recent heinous sex crimes, one of which involved a class 4 student who was beaten and raped on her way home from school in Nakasi, Nausori.

“We are undertaking that, that is something that has been bothering us, but look the rape cases is really something from the other side, you know people who are engaging in this unprofessional and unethical behavior, so I think it’s really, it’s a concern for not one stakeholder but the whole country.”

Reddy reiterates that a collective approach is needed and is the best chance to fight against serious sexual offenses involving children.

In May, the Director of Public Prosecutions Office recorded 48 cases of serious sexual offenses, the following month in June there was 47.

In May, there were 27 victims of which 16 were under the age of 18 years, of these 6 were between the ages of 6 and 12. Ten victims were between the ages of 13 and 17.

In June, there were 25 victims under the age of 18, of these 3 were between the ages of 3 while 12 were between the ages of 13 to 17.