Demand for sex education in school curriculum gets louder Parent-teacher forum will meet cm to discuss issue

Demand for sex education in school curriculum gets louder

Parent-teacher forum will meet cm to discuss issue

Worried about the rise in number of child sex abuse cases in the state, the Parent Teacher Association United Forum has reiterated its demand to introduce sex education in school curriculum. The forum, which comprises parents and teachers who work for student welfare, has placed the demand before the government, and will soon meet the chief minister to discuss the matter. “Sex education is the need of the hour, and we need to introduce it in the school syllabus as most girls don’t know the difference between good touch and bad touch. This time, we are seeking opinion from psychiatrist and counsellors for this subject," said Arundhati Chavan, president of the PTAUF. The forum had made a similar demand two years, but no action was taken. “Earlier, when the government had prepared the syllabus on sex education, they took most of the content from western countries, which is not suitable for our society. This time, we will make the syllabus keeping in the mind that the matter has to be accepted in our society," said Chavan. Women and child welfare department minister Varsha Gaikwad concurred that sex education is important in schools. "But it can be done in an informal way by holding a special discussion on the subject," she added. “Unfortunately most people equate sex education to the act of intercourse, which is this is completely wrong. It actually enables children to understand and deal with basic life skills and gender issues. Through this subject, students will learn self-respect and respect for the opposite gender which is very important,” explained Dr Samir Dalwai, developmental paediatrician and consultant of child rights.