India
With growing concern over the lack of gender sensitisation among the youth, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has developed a "kit on gender sensitivity" for teachers to enable them to ensure unbiased participation of both boys and girls in the learning process, the Centre told the supreme court.
Updated : Feb 02, 2015, 07:18 AM IST
With growing concern over the lack of gender sensitisation among the youth, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has developed a "kit on gender sensitivity" for teachers to enable them to ensure unbiased participation of both boys and girls in the learning process, the Centre told the supreme court.
What does kit contain?
Responding to a PIL before the apex court, the human resource development (HRD) ministry, through an affidavit, told the court that the CBSE kit includes a handbook, cards on gender sensitisation and also a manual to equip educators with knowledge, attitudes and skills desired for practicing gender sensitive learning process in schools.
"The handbook focuses on encouraging equal participation and involvement of boys and girls in class activities and ensuring equal access to learning materials.." the government said.
What is the aim?
Admitting that the teachers sometime "inadvertently" make disparaging remarks about the capabilities or characteristics of either gender, the ministry said "the handbook will serve as a practical guide for making teachers aware of situations that are discriminatory in the context of gender…"
Will teachers be trained?
Further, the government said CBSE has proposed to organise training of teachers to equip them with knowledge, skills and attitudes and methodologies that promote gender equality. The training, which can be held through Sahodaya clusters, will enable them to disseminate the desirable attitude based on mutual respect and trust between girls and boys.
How are gender concerns being tackled?
Besides, the HRD ministry said the National Curriculum Framework of 2005 has also prioritised gender as an important guiding principle in all curricular area and stipulated that gender be an integral part of all disciplines offered to children at school stage.Gender concerns have been integrated in the curriculum and in the textbooks drawn up by the National Council of Educational Research and Training, the government said.
What prompted move?
After the December 16, 2012, gang rape of a 23 year-old girl in Delhi and other crimes against the women, the debate was on the societal upbringing and education of boys and their mindsets which lead to increasing crimes against women. A PIL was also filed in the supreme court seeking direction to the government for guidelines to impart education relating to the importance of women and the offence against them at appropriate levels of education including primary, elementary and higher education which would help curb male prejudice against women.