Amid Myanmar’s ongoing political turmoil, the absence of comprehensive sex education is fueling health risks and social vulnerability among youth, highlighting an urgent need for informed, inclusive, and sustainable educational reforms.
Since the 2021 military coup, Myanmar has experienced profound social, political, and economic disruptions. Among the less visible yet deeply urgent consequences is the increase in unprotected sexual activity and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among young adults. According to the World Health Organisation (2023), Myanmar has reported a growing number of HIV infections among people aged 15 to 24, reflecting weakened access to reproductive services and public health outreach. Schools remain unstable, and social taboos surrounding sexuality remain. The lack of comprehensive sex education (CSE) in Myanmar shows that it is not only a public health failure but a broader governance crisis. In the context of sustainability, this issue underscores how fragile institutions undermine social resilience. Sustainable development, as outlined by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), depends on inclusive education (SDG 4), gender equality (SDG 5), good health (SDG 3), and effective governance (SDG 16). The absence of CSE in Myanmar’s education system highlights how governance breakdowns can directly threaten social sustainability.
Before the coup, Myanmar’s sex education curriculum was limited and inconsistent. Lessons focused narrowly on reproductive biology and largely avoided topics such as contraception, consent, gender identity, and sexual rights (UNESCO, 2018). These gaps were compounded by social conservatism and religious sensitivity, which made open discussions about sexuality taboo in many schools and at home. After 2021, the education sector worsened further. Many teachers and students joined the Civil Disobedience Movement, while thousands of schools were closed, damaged, or militarised. Meanwhile, international and local NGOs such as Marie Stopes Myanmar and Population Services International, which once provided youth-friendly reproductive health services, were restricted or shut down (UNFPA, 2025). Young people increasingly turned to peers or social media for sexual health information, often encountering misinformation. Community health groups have noted a rise in sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies since 2022, particularly among displaced and urban youth (Save the Children, 2023). With health infrastructure weakened and reproductive services reduced, the absence of institutional sex education has translated directly into higher social and health risks.
Beyond public health data, social dynamics further reveal how the absence of structured sex education is being filled by unregulated digital content. A recent editorial video report by The Irrawaddy (2025) featured interviews with secondary school teachers who admitted that platforms like TikTok and Facebook play a major role in shaping students' views on sexuality. Teachers reported that sexual themes and online trends have normalised early sexual activity without awareness of protection or consequences. In the absence of formal, comprehensive sex education, social media effectively becomes the “teacher,” accelerating misinformation and unsafe behaviour among Myanmar’s youth.
Recent empirical research has highlighted the severity of knowledge gaps among Myanmar’s youth. An analysis of data from the Myanmar Demographic and Health Survey found that nearly half of sexually active young people had their first sexual encounter before the age of 18, and only around half reported using contraception. Educational attainment and regional factors were significant predictors of safe-sex practices, suggesting that both access to information and social context shape sexual behaviour. These findings highlight how the absence of comprehensive sex education contributes directly to risky behaviours and underscore the urgent need for policy intervention. Moreover, misinformation about sexuality contributes to discrimination against LGBTQ+ communities, undermining social inclusion and cohesion. True sustainability requires that all individuals, regardless of gender or identity, be able to make informed, autonomous choices about their bodies and relationships.
Comprehensive sex education is not merely an educational issue but a governance responsibility. Effective governance provides citizens with the knowledge and autonomy to make informed decisions. In Myanmar, the lack of CSE reflects deeper governance failures: the politicisation of morality, the silencing of civil society, and the neglect of youth rights. Teachers are often discouraged or penalised for addressing sexual health topics, as education policy remains centrally controlled and highly conservative. This suppression undermines young people’s access to information that could protect their well-being. Moreover, post-coup censorship and reduced NGO activity have restricted community-based initiatives, leaving few trusted channels for accurate education. The governance crisis following the 2021 coup has had devastating ripple effects on Myanmar’s education and health sectors, including widespread school closures, teacher arrests, and rising sexual and gender-based violence (Human Rights Watch, 2024).
From a sustainability perspective, this governance vacuum weakens three key pillars: social resilience, as youth become more vulnerable to preventable health risks; gender equality, as young women face disproportionate consequences from early pregnancies and unsafe sex; and institutional trust, which is compromised when schools and government systems fail to provide relevant, protective education. Neglecting sex education carries lasting social and economic costs. Rising rates of HIV, STIs, and teenage pregnancies place additional strain on an already fragile health system. In 2023, Myanmar recorded an estimated 11,000 new HIV infections, with a growing proportion among youth populations (UNAIDS, 2023). Many young women who become pregnant early face stigma, school dropout, and economic exclusion, reinforcing cycles of poverty and gender inequality.
Building sustainable reform in Myanmar demands a multi-layered strategy that recognises sex education as a governance and human rights issue. Comprehensive sex education should be integrated into the national curriculum based on UNESCO’s International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education, which emphasises scientific accuracy, age-appropriateness, and inclusivity (UNESCO, 2018). Despite systemic challenges, small but meaningful initiatives have emerged to advance inclusive sexual education in Myanmar. According to UNFPA (2025), recent training programs have introduced comprehensive sexuality education modules that engage young people, including those with disabilities and LGBTQ+ identities. These programs emphasise diversity, consent, and human rights, reflecting an effort to align Myanmar’s youth education with global sustainability principles. Such inclusive approaches demonstrate how governance partnerships with civil society can still function as micro-level models of resilience, even within broader institutional collapse.
Teacher training must be prioritised, as many educators lack both the confidence and the pedagogical tools to teach sensitive topics effectively. Community-based and digital education platforms could supplement formal schooling, particularly in conflict-affected or remote areas. Collaboration among local bodies, international partners, and local NGOs is essential to destigmatise and mainstream sex education. Public campaigns that frame CSE as a health and sustainability issue rather than a moral or cultural one can gradually shift public perception. Governance reform must protect and empower civil society organisations that work on youth health and rights, as these actors play a crucial role in sustaining education and awareness when state systems fail.
To conclude, the crisis of sexual health among Myanmar’s youth is not simply a private or moral matter but a reflection of systemic governance failure. Sustainable development cannot be achieved while young people remain uninformed, unprotected, and stigmatised. Comprehensive sex education, when effectively implemented, strengthens social resilience, gender equality, and institutional trust, which are essential pillars of sustainability. Rebuilding Myanmar’s social fabric requires acknowledging that health and education are intertwined with governance and justice. Teaching young people about their bodies, rights, and responsibilities is not a threat to culture but a foundation for a sustainable future. In a country where so much has been silenced, empowering youth with knowledge can be the most sustainable act of all.
Htay Su Wai is a Junior Research Fellow at the Sustainability Lab of the Shwetaungthagathu Reform Initiative Centre (SRIc) and holds a Master of Public Policy (MPP) from the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin, Germany.
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