Check out 16 Return-To-Work Programs In India For Ambitious Women Like You!
The RSS linked SSUN - Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas recently stated that sex education is not a requirement for schools. We disagree.
The RSS linked SSUN – Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas recently stated that sex education is not a requirement for schools. We disagree.
Recently the RSS affiliate Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas (SSUN) made a recommendation to the government in India that sex education must not be mandatory for all students in schools. What they recommend instead is ‘need-based counselling’ to the parents of teenagers and students with ‘specific issues’, and that schools mustn’t have sex education as a subject, or as any part of the school curriculum.
Ironically enough they use the term ‘sex education’ several times in the statement against it, and do not offer a suitable replacement or alternative.
The SSUN founded by RSS educationist and historian Dinanath Batra has been a staunch advocate of the view that educational institutions in India must include various tenets of India’s traditional knowledge system. They want the focus to be shifted to the Vedas and ancient Indian philosophy.
Sex education sadly is still being labelled as a ‘western idea’. The SSUN spokesperson said in his statement that wherever it has been implemented it has had a “bad effect.”
Currently schools in India do inculcate and impart life skills included in the overall school curriculum, and this is integrated across various subjects and classes, and has an age appropriate basic sexual education component too.
Ironical as it may sound that a country still fighting menstrual taboos, reproductive rights issues, rights of LGBTQIA, and social taboos like marital rape is being asked to not even start conversations about sexual identity, consent and sexual etiquette and sexual violence in the education system.
Most men and women in India who were in schools till about 1990s did not have any access to sex education in the curriculum. Even the chapters in biology about male and female anatomy were often left for ‘homework’ or ‘self-study’, as most educators refused to use the images and texts in classrooms pertaining to genitals and sexual reproduction.
Across the world, education systems are striving to be inclusive, yet a public body is making a suggestion here which is almost like stepping back through time and cancelling out a positive change that came about only as a result of a persistent and long drawn battle by educational thinkers, crusaders and academicians.
A series of tweets by VictimFocus founder and Twitter influencer Dr. Jessica Eaton spoke about the stigma in sexual education in the UK. She said that teachers are unfortunately falling into sexist taboos and thus shying away from naming female anatomy parts like the vagina in classes. This bad or ill-equipped sex ed might do more damage than creating awareness in class rooms, and further stigmatise the issue.
Check out the thread of tweets here:
Thread One time in 2017 when I was teaching teachers how to deliver good sex ed in schools, at the beginning of the course, the headteacher came to me & said ‘We had a meeting and we all agreed that we will say ‘penis’ but none of us are comfortable saying ‘vagina’ in lessons.’ — Dr. Jessica Eaton (@Jessicae13Eaton) August 28, 2019
Thread
One time in 2017 when I was teaching teachers how to deliver good sex ed in schools, at the beginning of the course, the headteacher came to me & said ‘We had a meeting and we all agreed that we will say ‘penis’ but none of us are comfortable saying ‘vagina’ in lessons.’
— Dr. Jessica Eaton (@Jessicae13Eaton) August 28, 2019
This has brought the focus back on the issues of shame and fear associated with sexual learning, more so in conventional societies like ours.
We believe that instead of empowering the students and making them aware, this exposure might make the teenagers/pre-teens curious and lead to sexual experimentation and ‘moral downfall’. Some even blame this component of education for rising sexual crimes which is again a prejudice.
The National Education Policy draft prepared by the RK Kasturirangan committee constituted by the centre, submitted it to the Indian HRD Minister Mr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank in May 2019.
It clearly states the need for the inclusion of sex education especially in secondary school studies and suggests topics ranging from consent, respect and safety of women, family planning, harassment to the prevention of various sexually transmitted diseases as well.
The National Education Policy draft was made public by the HRD ministry, and it was indicated that only after considering the suggestions from the general public, and consultation with experts shall this be finalised as government policy. The Minister said that the ministry had received as many as 1,50,000 suggestions from the public and diverse stakeholders in education and academics.
What happens after this, is to be seen.
Image source: shutterstock
Pooja Priyamvada is an author, columnist, translator, online content & Social Media consultant, and poet. An awarded bi-lingual blogger she is a trained psychological/mental health first aider, mindfulness & grief facilitator, emotional wellness trainer, reflective read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
People say that women are the greatest enemies of women. I vehemently disagree. It is the patriarchal mindset that makes women believe in the wrong ideology.
The entire world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. It should be a joyful day, but unfortunately, not all women are entitled to this privilege, as violence against women is at its peak. The experience of oppression pushes many women to choose freedom. As far as patriotism is concerned, feminism is not a cup of tea in this society.
What happens when a woman decides to stand up for herself? Does this world easily accept the decisions of women in this society? What inspires them to be free of the clutches of the oppression that women have faced for ages? Most of the time, women do not get the chance to decide for themselves. Their lives are always at the mercy of someone, which can be their parents, siblings, husband, or children.
In some cases, women do not feel the need to make any decisions. They are taught to obey the patriarchal system, which makes them believe that they are right. In my family, I was never taught to make decisions on my own. It was always my parents who bought dresses and all that I needed.
Love cannot be imposed Stalkers speak of love, which in a few minutes turns deadly when they are rejected by the woman.
Trigger Warning: This speaks of stalking, violence against women, and murder by a stalker, and may be triggering to survivors.
Justice prevailed after 6 long years.
A ‘NO’ once said or said over a thousand times holds only the same meaning when uttered by a woman.
Please enter your email address