Did you know that Health, Population, and Environment (HPE) is no longer a compulsory subject in secondary grades in Nepal?

This subject used to include important topics like menstruation, puberty, sexual and reproductive health. But now it’s been made optional. That change could have a big impact on how much young people learn about their own bodies.

In this episode, we talk to two people who understand this issue deeply. Suman Silwal is the Education Officer at Ratnanagar Municipality and a former Curriculum Officer at the Curriculum Development Centre. Dev Bahadur Buda is a health teacher at Bheri Madhyamik Vidyalaya in Birendranagar.

In this episode we explore what this change means in practice, what’s still being taught in schools, and what needs to improve. They remind us that it’s not just about having curriculum materials. It’s about making sure they are actually used in the classroom. Because periods and puberty are part of growing up. Education about them shouldn’t be optional.