In these depraved times when sexual crimes are rampant against children, mostly minor girls, Ranchi’s so-called elite private schools are shunning sex education like plague, leaving students unguarded to bombardment of often inaccurate and wanton images of human partnership on television and other social media.
While both ICSE and CBSE have made appointment of counsellors mandatory, sex education remains a taboo in affiliated schools because the authorities concerned think introducing the same in the curriculum would drive home “wrong” messages!
Sex education is primarily instruction on issues relating to human sexuality, including sexual anatomy, intercourse, reproduction, reproductive health and rights, abstinence and birth control. Common avenues of such education are parents, school programmes and public campaigns.
The CBSE has designed its adolescent education programme module to incorporate sex studies, while both boards have long directed affiliated schools to set up counselling centres manned by clinical psychologists, but in vain.
Rinpas director Amul Ranjan confirmed that schools in the city were not open to sex education. “The word sex has been purged from the academic lexicon. Schools considered it taboo. They are reluctant to counsel students on the matter. Although prescribed in both CBSE and ICSE syllabus, sex education till date remains only on pen and paper,” he said.
Ranjan is, however, hopeful of turning around the mindset. “We are planning to hold workshops for school principals and design a curriculum that can be followed without inhibitions,” he said, adding that parents too were responsible for the spurt in crimes because they failed to openly discuss issues like sexual harassment with their wards.
Gurunanak Higher Secondary School, affiliated to CBSE, is one cradle that is overtly reluctant to impart sex education. “We can’t talk of rape in the assembly. It will send a wrong message to students,” said principal Manohar Lal.
“However, we have asked class teachers to direct students against talking to strangers and giving away contact numbers,” he added. Lal claimed they were also planning to constitute a four-member committee and prepare a do’s and don’ts list for students.
“We will discuss elaborately how to impart sex education. This committee will also be responsible to provide necessary counselling individually to girls and boys.”
Principal of DAV Kapil Dev M.K. Sinha too maintained that candid discussions on sex would not be a “healthy practice”. “We do not wish to openly discuss about sexuality in school. However, we try to convey the right message among students through lady teachers,” he said.
Sinha, however, claims to have floated a committee of six, including three female teachers, and sent details to CBSE authorities.
Although workshops are mandatory under CBSE and ICSE regulations, most cradles either ignore the same or host sessions once a year.
Principal of St Xavier’s School Ajit Xess, however, claimed they held regular counselling for senior students. “We believe in holistic development of students so that they grow up to be responsible citizens.”
Parents express their concerns over the unwillingness schools are demonstrating in sexually educating children.
“Recently, several little children have been targeted. Lack of counselling in schools and at home during formative years leave both boys and girls vulnerable to sexual crimes,” said the mother of a young victim.
