The government is finding itself on slippery turf on what it should do on the
question of introducing the subject in the school curriculum.
The Board Of Secondary Education (BOSE), which conducts Class X examinations
and prepares curriculum for schools, has been facing opposition from different
student groups on the issue of introducing sex education in the syllabus.
The government was forced to drop the subject last year in the face of stiff
opposition from teachers and parents.
"Now certain changes have been effected in the chapter on adolescent education.
As this could not be incorporated in the textbook this year, we plan to add the
chapter in the science subject for classes nine and ten from the next academic
year," BOSE President S Behera said.
The board's plan to add the subject to the curriculum has drawn strong
criticism from activists of the All India Democratic Students' Organisation
(AIDSO).
Demanding immediate withdrawal of the proposal, its activists on Saturday
staged a protest in front of the BOSE office in Cuttack.
"Adolescent sex education will simply cause innocent children to be curious
about sexual matters and it will affect their morale," claimed AIDSO leader
Rajendra Burma.
