Sex education has barely anything to do with sex in the various schools of Delhi-NCR
We often speak about sex education and its inclusion in school curriculum but do they even reach the point where the word is spoken aloud without apprehension? We spoke to several schools in Delhi-NCR to understand the present scenario and here's what they told us:
Ryan International School, Faridabad
Ryan International’s Principal Anju Uppal says that the school gives importance to sex education and takes classes regularly but doesn't have a curriculum in place. The classes are generally taken by the science faculty and they rely heavily on videos to educate the children.
“At least 2 sessions a month are organised for each level - pre-primary, primary, secondary and senior secondary. Pre-primary and primary level students are told about good touch and bad touch and certain rules to follow while boarding and de-boarding a bus, in washrooms, etc. In secondary level, we tell them about menstrual cycle, hygiene, attraction towards opposite gender and changes in the body. In senior secondary level, we take query specific sessions,” says Uppal.
On the inclusion of sex and contraceptives, she says that they are only mentioned and not discussed openly.
Nigam Pratibha Vidhyalaya
Nigam Pratibha Vidhyala is a co-education primary school (up to class 5) run by Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). The incorporation of sex education in terms of sensitising the children about how their body and various kind of touch begins here.
“We were once given a few pictures by the Department of Education on good and bad touch and we showed them to students of class 4 and 5 through a projector,” tells its Principal Kiran Bala. She further adds that around once a months, teachers talk to children about the same using pictures circulated on Whats App messenger.
Mamata Modern School
Mamata Modern School, a private school in west Delhi, starts counselling the children once they reach class 8, says the Principal Pallavi Sharma even as she herself agrees that children are aware of sex at a very early age.
“For these counselling sessions a doctor is invited to the school who takes separate classes for girls and boys and teach them how they should maintain hygiene. The doctor also speaks on how one should behave in a relationship and what should be the limitations,’’ says the principal. Apparently, counselling sessions are also taken by teachers as and when the need arises. Sharma says that there is a need of compulsory sex education and a curriculum for it in school. “I know several schools who stay away from introducing sex education. Parents too are also reluctant to speak to their children about sex,” adds Sharma.
Shaheed Hemu Kalani Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya
A Delhi-government run school in Lajpat Nagar area of Delhi, Shaheed Hemu Kalani Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya functions as a co-ed school for primary classes and boys-only school at secondary and senior secondary level.
According to its Principal BK Sharma, they recently organised a workshop in association with an NGO on good touch and bad touch for class 1 to 5. “Teachers often interact with students and address issues but as such there is no formal subject or curriculum at present. However, there is a provision for an education counsellor but that post is empty at the moment, we will hire one soon,” he adds.
Govt. Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya
At this central government run school in Janakpuri for girls up to class 12, the cultural activity in-charge Mrs Usha Mathani informs us that sex education is not taught in the school and is not a part of any curriculum.
“Whenever a circular comes from Directorate of Education, we make our students aware about sexual harassment but there is no dedicated class for it. Personally, I think sex education should be imparted but in limits. We should tell them about their body, eve-teasing, sexual harassment and to maintain distance with opposite sex but I don’t think there is need to tell them more,” says Mathani who also teaches the moral science in school.
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