Teachers from various CBSE-affiliated schools attend a training programme on adolescence education. Telegraph pictures

Sex and sexuality, responsible sexual behaviour and HIV-Aids are some topics that adults find difficult to talk about with adolescents.

Though sex and adolescent education is a part of the school curriculum, it can make most teachers squeamish.

Thus, it remains a challenge to educate youngsters to understand the physical changes they undergo during adolescence, its corresponding psychological effects and adopting a responsible lifestyle.

Keeping this objective in mind, the Mother’s Public School, Bhubaneswar, hosted a nodal teachers’ training programme on adolescence education on its campus from September 3 to 5.

Two teachers each from 16 CBSE-affiliated schools in and around Bhubaneswar attended various sessions and activities under the programme.

Many other subjects related to the main topic such as peer relationships and influences, friendship and attraction, differences in growing up process and effects on body image, HIV awareness and many other issues were discussed.

Veena Sabherwal from the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) was the key resource person for the three-day workshop. She is a former health education officer, Union ministry of health and family welfare. Psychologist Smaranika Panda also conducted some sessions.