Investigating the status and role of sex education at primary school level and providing an educational framework

The purpose of this study was to investigate the status and role of sex education at primary school level and providing a framework for its instructions. The research method was qualitative content analysis and case study. The informants of the research were all textbooks of primary school level including 41 books and 13 specialists and experts in the field of child sexual education that have been selected using purposive sampling method of criterion-based and chain type. The research tools included checklist of content analysis and semi-structured interview. The accuracy and robustness of the data were obtained through four criteria of credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability. Findings showed that primary school textbooks do not have a desirable status in terms of attention to the components of sexual education. Only some components of skills in the sixth grade of primary school have been considered and the other components of knowledge, attitude and skill of sexual education in different grades have been neglected. Due to their comprehensive educational and nurturing role in promoting and stabilizing the school's position, experts have considered it necessary to pay attention to sex education at this educational level which aims at body consciousness, identity, and maintaining health and safety. Sex education could be included in the framework of formal education at three steps of empowering family, teachers and students and at informal education using educational media and school canvas design. Based on the findings, it is recommended that education decision makers pay due attention to the field of sexual education in the primary school curriculum.