17 August 2001; Lets talk about sex: Govt. tells s

August 17, 2001

The India Express 17 August 2001, New Delhi.

Let’s talk about sex: Govt tells schools

Sunetra Choudhury

DELHI government is all set to give the birds-and-bees lesson to school

students. A move which definitely seems progressive but for the fact that it

aims to advocate abstinence to students who are sexually active in their teens.

The project is already underway at 450 government schools in the Capital and is

the second phase of the National AIDS Control Programme Phase II. Before

formally launching the course in schools, the government undertook a survey in

the schools to gauge awareness levels. Initial reports suggest that students are

more sexually aware than the teachers.

The Delhi State AIDS Control Society which has been coordinating with various

agencies like National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) and UN agencies have

been holding various workshops to kick off the project. A half-day workshop for

sensitisation of the principals in various districts of the Capital has already

been held.

What is interesting is that along with teachers who are going to aid the

dissemination of the sex education programme, there are going to be students

involved as well. Termed ‘peer educators’, two of them along with two nodal

teachers will be acting as the guides in the school. A three-day training

programme will equip them with the necessary skills. Their aid is the booklet

called ‘Learning for Life’ which has been developed by the National Council of

Educational Research and Training (NCERT), NACO and UNESCO and UNICEF.

“We are identifying physical education teachers as nodal teachers as studies

show that they are the ones with whom students relax the most,” said Aslam Naved

of the state AIDS

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