Schools Teach Life Skills Along With Modules On Sex Education

For a long time, any discussion about sex or sexuality was frowned upon, since the whole issue was seen as a taboo. This meant that the group, who were the most vulnerable and whose awareness of these issues was crucial, remained ignorant.

This group ranged from children to young adults. Things improved in 1993, when the department of education adopted the directives.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) developed a module on sex education. First it was called sex education and, finally, it was called 'education for adolescence' and combined with life skills.

As Dr. Namita Ranganathan, a member of the NCERT (National Council for Educational Research and Training) committee and CBSE president who initiated this program says: "The idea behind this was that it should be seen as part of the growth. All aspects of growth, such as puberty, sexuality and body image, will be discussed, since these are concerns that the children would have to understand. They had combined the course with life skills, which is the ability to make decisions, to have an effective communication, to maintain good interpersonal relationships and to solve problems, etc. In this way it becomes a holistic education program for adolescents ".

CURRICULUM MODULE

This program has modules on growth, prevention of substance abuse and HIV / AIDS. They also have a course on social issues related to sex and sexuality, such as building perspectives on sex workers. In the Kendriya Vidyalaya schools (central government), they follow the curriculum that NCERT had developed. The education programs for adolescents even take place in government public schools, (Navodaya Vidyalaya). In addition to this, private schools also invite experts to conduct workshops and sensitivity training on these issues for their students.

"It is important to understand that this model had not developed due to a problem that arose, it had been developed with the aim of helping to prevent sexual abuse or any type of exploitation," explains Ranganathan.

HOW THE STUDENTS SEE IT

But students feel that the module should have a stronger presence. Aditya Sehagal, a Class XI student in Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Mehta Vidyalaya, says there is a lot of ground to cover. "Apart from the professional orientation sessions held in Class XI, and two chapters, one in Class IX and X, on reproduction, problems such as bullying, sex education, changes in our bodies, etc. in class XI are misinformed about these issues and I think this will have a big impact on their future. "

By: Preeti Narula

Content: https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/mail-today/story/schools-impart-life-skills-coupled-with-sex-education-module-1502759-2019-04-16