Should there be Sex Education in Schools?
After a prolonged debate, the education Ministry In India took the decision not to include sex education in the curriculum of school. The proposal had met with firm opposition, because sexuality as a subject is a very sensitive one and probably unwholesome for the younger generation according to many. This, probably, is a myopic view of the real problem.
For the last two decades the children of India have been increasingly exposed to the world through the media. They have been exposed to higher doses of sex and violence and crimes related to these. Children, who are brought up with misconceptions, cultivate faulty attitudes in the most impressionable years of their life. However, with the alarming spread of AIDS a number of young people may fall prey to it, if they are not made aware of the hazards-of sex. Irresponsible and restless—freedom to experiment and satisfy their curiosity can make young people susceptible to the Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
In the absence of any kind of Instruction about sex, youngsters often turn to friends for information.
More often than not, peer group is ill-equipped to provide- them with facts. The children sometimes turn to indecent literature. All this is instrumental in developing warped ideas.
Is it not imperative, that a youngsters who constitute 40 per cent of the population, should be given accurate information on all sex-related issues or issues regarding population control, etc.? Moreover all questions related to sex are the outcome of natural curiosity in children and answers to these questions must be given as readily and objectively as possible.
Positive steps are necessary to stem misconceptions. It is important that, in school, children and youngsters learn about sex in scientific and objective manner from individuals qualified to impart sex education. It will also make the youngsters alert aware and less vulnerable.
However, the quality of the education must be carefully monitored. Cautious selection most be made of only those teachers who are qualified to teach this highly sensitive subject, as wrong handling of this issue could have disastrous results.
