Education Ministry Orders Recall Of ‘Vulgar’ Children’s Sex Education Book

Jakarta. The Indonesian government has ordered a publisher to withdraw a sex education book for
children — which addresses the subject of masturbation — for being too vulgar.

The publisher of “I’m Not Afraid to Sleep Alone and Learn to Control Myself” apologized for causing
any offense but said the book was written to help parents teach children how to protect themselves from
sexual harassment.

The Education Ministry said the book, written by Fita Chakra, contained pornographic content and cited a
depiction of a cartoon boy’s thoughts as he hugs a bolster pillow when he cannot sleep. It also includes a
part where the boy finds a new “game” of putting his hand inside his trousers.

“The content of the book is not appropriate for children. It’s too vulgar,” the ministry said in a statement,
adding the publisher must recall the book or face “strict sanction.”

Sex education in Indonesia, which has the world’s largest Muslim population, is uncommon and casual
conversations about sex are often considered taboo.

Awaluddin Tjalla, head of the ministry’s center of curriculum and books, also said the ministry was
speaking to an association of publishers to urge it to take action against the publisher of the sex education
book. He did not elaborate what form the action could take.

The author was not immediately available for comment, but the publisher, Tiga Serangkai, said it had
consulted psychologists as well as pediatricians when researching the book.

“Our intention was to help parents explain to children how they can protect themselves… from people
with ill-intention,” it said in a statement.

The book also contained educational material on sexually transmitted diseases and “basic knowledge that
is important for a child to know from early age,” it said.

On its Instagram account, Tiga Serangkai said: “We understand that some in our society are not ready for
sex education at an early age,” adding that those who had bought the book could return it and get a
refund.

The publisher said the book had been withdrawn since December, but that it had found copies still on sale
at some online stores.

Some Indonesians turned to social media to complain. An Instagram user with handler @revitatiaman
said: “I’ve seen a few pages of the book and I don’t think there’s any education in there. It will only
damage a child’s moral.”

“It’s better to soothe a kid who is learning to sleep by himself at night with reading or praying,” another
user @pipijippie said. “For Muslims, it can be done by reading the Koran, not by introducing the kid to
sexual activity.”