State includes sex education in school curricula
To begin with, it will be implemented in high schools
The State government has decided to include sex education in school curricula from the next academic year.
A 16-hour manual on elements of sex education, sensitising students about issues related to adolescence, sexually transmitted diseases, awareness about Aids and other issues will be discussed as part of the programme in schools. A special training programme will be conducted for teachers to equip them to implement the programme effectively, according to officials of the Department of State Education, Research and Training.
The authorities concerned have approved the manual. To begin with, the programme will be implemented in high schools. A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resources Development, which looked into the Sexual Offences Bill, had suggested in 2011 that an education module on sex education be included in school education to sensitise vulnerable children about sexual offences. In 2009, a parliamentary committee had recommended that sex education be scrapped from school education. Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh were also against sex education in schools.
Amid mixed responses to the issue, Karnataka’s decision comes as a bold step. The move has brought a sigh of relief to both teachers and parents, considering the rise in the number of child sexual abuse cases.
Teachers and students alike have welcomed the State government’s decision. “Talking about sex is considered a taboo in our society. Students seldom approach teachers in the face of any adolescent problems, as they fear being reprimanded,” said Principal of St Patrick’s Boys’ High School Thomas Joseph.
He described the State government’s move as a step in the right direction. He was happy that sex education will be part of the curricula from now on.
Class X students of St Patrick's Boys' High School felt that they did need someone to discuss adolescent-related issues. However, they were sceptic about the outcome of such an initiative. “We would be comfortable discussing the issue with a male teacher. But teachers are shy to speak about this,” say the students.
Boys say that their source for learning about reproduction and gender-related issues was never the biology textbook. Peer discussions and internet are their sources of information. The idea of discussing with parents hasn't crossed their minds. Students who have been able to discuss with elders about the issues bothering them feel more secure about it. “Scientific details in biology textbook do not suffice. It is more about dealing with emotions,” says a student of St Joseph's High School. His school has a counsellor. “Be it infatuation or any other problem, we go to our teacher who will counsel us,” says the class XI student.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, the class VII student says she wants to keep herself informed about many puberty-related issues but is scared to discuss it with anyone. “It would be good if we could speak about these issues in school,” she says.
It is heartening to see the government legitimising sex education through this decision, opines Joy Srinivasan, director of city-based NGO Makkala Jagruti. Srinivasan, who has counselled many children in need of care and protection, sees sex education as an important step in making children aware of their rights. Through education about puberty-related issues children will know what a “safe touch” is and when they have to protect themselves.
They will be able to negotiate situations and prioritise their emotions. When they are aware about the changes they are going through, students will learn to prioritise studies over other issues preoccupying their mind, Srinivasan says.
It, however, has to be implemented in the right way. Else, it faces the danger of being just another programme, Srinivasan adds.
