Sex education in school in India rejected by panel

A Parliamentary committee of the Rajya Sabha has disfavored introduction of sex education in schools. Instead, it has suggested inclusion of appropriate chapters in Biology syllabus, but not before plus two stage. Rejecting sex education in schools, the Committee on Petitions of Rajya Sabha said in its report that, message should appropriately be given to school children that there should be no sex before marriage which is immoral, unethical and unhealthy.

The panel headed by senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu said that, students should be made aware that child marriage is illegal and is injurious to the health of girl child. Students should also be educated that consensual sex below 16 years of age amounts to rape, the Committee said. Instead the panel suggested that appropriate, age specific curriculum should be drawn up for scientific health education, moral education, personality development and character building.

The committee said chapters like 'Physical and Mental Development in Adolescents' and 'HIV/AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases' may be removed from the present curriculum and should be included in the books of biology at the ten plus two stage.