The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : State says ‘no’ to sex education

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Friday, Jun 15, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

State says ‘no’ to sex education

Special Correspondent

‘Life skills’ to be taught

Centre to be told about the State’s decision
There is opposition to introduction of the subject

BANGALORE: It is official now. The State Government has decided that it will be “life skills education” and not sex education in schools from the current academic year.

Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Basavaraj Horatti told presspersons here on Thursday that the Government had decided to write to the Union Human Resource Development Ministry that the Government in the State would not introduce sex education as a subject as it would not be in the students’ interest.

The teacher’s manual for the programme was seen as inappropriate since it translated content for the United Nations Children’s Fund mechanically rather than creatively adapt it to the local context, he said.

Earlier, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy too had expressed his views against introduction of sex education on the ground that it would be perceived as “anti-culture” and “anti-social”.

For arriving at a consensus on the issue, the Government had discussed the matter with social activists, representatives of non-governmental organisations, education and medical experts on April 18.

Mr. Horatti and officials of the Department held a meeting with leaders of the Islamic Students Organisation on Thursday and heard their views on introduction of sex education in high schools. The Minister said the organisation was totally against such a move.

The Union HRD Ministry on May 23 had written to the State Government that sex education was introduced in States on the initiative of the National AIDS Control Organisation to protect secondary and senior secondary school students in the age group of 15-17 from AIDS and exposure to drugs.

It suggested to the Government to use education material in tune with the socio-cultural ethos of the State.

Mr. Horatti said instead of sex education, the “life skill” education would be taught to high school students. A study material on ‘Life Skills” prepared by the National Institute for Mental Health and Neuro Science (NIMHANS), Bangalore, would be used for teaching health education and discipline.

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