News | 18 Mar 2014
Puberty Education and Menstrual Hygiene Management: An Education Sector Responsibility

Puberty education and menstrual hygiene management cover

Puberty is a time of change for all young people, but it is particularly challenging for girls who are often unprepared for changes in their body, which can become a major obstacle to their education. In some parts of the world, two out of three girls reported having no idea of what was happening to them when they began menstruating.

With 593 million learners in primary – and every year a new cohort of learners reaching puberty - schools are the ideal location to reach a large proportion of learners before puberty so that they are prepared for the changes. Yet, there is little systematic and comprehensive guidance on this subject for the education sector, including principals, teachers and parents.

The publication Puberty Education and Menstrual Hygiene Management, is the ninth volume in the UNESCO series Good Policy and Practice in Health Education that aims to help the education sector address these issues and improve the quality of education.  The publication identifies ways for all partners in the education sector to work together on puberty education and menstrual hygiene management starting in primary school. It also provides clear recommendations on what is required to remove the stigma associated with menstruation and offer opportunities to all girls to grow up to become fully empowered women.

The publication puts forth a vision of puberty education that is skills-based, inclusive and comprehensive. It is part of a comprehensive sexuality education curriculum, which is part of a larger health curriculum, which is an integral part of a comprehensive school health approach.