Why sex education is still not mandatory in Indian Education System?

Sex education in India is still a taboo that does not really concern higher authorities including parents. A report released by an international organization, ‘Youth Coalition for sexual and reproductive rights’ about sex education in India, disclosed that most of the private and public schools affiliated state boards of secondary education does not include any kind of sexuality education in their curriculum. Administration did initiate and introduced, ‘Adolescent Education Program’ in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) in 2007 but was not supported by 12 other state administrations and made difficult to get it implemented. Surprisingly, the reason was given of ‘inappropriate content’ and that it will increase ‘risky behavior’ among young students and adolescents.

However, the program addresses issues such as gender and sexuality, abuse and violence, body image, substance abuse focusing drugs and other unhealthy attitudes. Every year approximately 30,000 rape case gets reported in India whereas unreported ones have no data. Lack of sex education is one of the significant reasons, why people commit sex related crimes according to Psychologists. It not only introduces us to new terms but also teach us the difference of what is right and offensive. But Indian parents are quite sceptical about including it in syllabus. Mrs. Sujata works in a corporate field and has a 16-year-old daughter. While talking to Eat News, she said, ‘Yes sex education should be included in education system for students to be aware about their surroundings but not everybody comes from a same background. Students get hesitate while studying such topics with each other, which is obvious. In my opinion instead of teaching them all together, a separate class for girls and for boys will make things better’. On asking why to shy and hesitate, she said that not everybody wants to be doctor. ‘Not everybody wants to pursue medicine. A general knowledge about body is enough for people to understand certain things. Giving sex education separately will not cause any harm’, she said.

Sex education has always been a ‘Hush Hush’ subject for the children. Chavi remembering the episode and said, ‘Our teacher was teaching us about reproduction, it went for a week. There was a strange silence where nobody opted to ask questions or even look at each other. While number of girls did not present to the class.’ What is her opinion on the sex education, Chavi thinks it is important? She said, ‘Though I don’t want to pursue science further, but this is basic knowledge that everybody including boys should know about. I also think that we don’t have enough content or syllabus regarding sex education. Homosexuality is one such topic that needs to be included in Indian education system because we hardly read about it in schools. Other than that, sexual harassments and domestic violence should also get space in Indian education system.’

Psychologist Manav does not think every student is same. According to him, ‘It is every important for parents also to teach children about sex related issues. While some parents do talk about it at home, most of them still choose to avoid it. Since students spend most of their time at home, parents should act supportive and should teach them about domestic violence, sexual touch, unwanted pregnancies, sexual harassments etc. This is not making them risky or worsening their mindset but making them sensitive and aware.’ He further added that in our society, sex education is taken as a reason for several crimes committed by people. Instead, ‘People should understand education educates a person and introduce with what is right and wrong and on the other side, uneducated person acts differently because one is deprived of knowledge,’ he said.

Manav shared about one of his patients and told Eat News, ‘He came to me two months back and he introduced himself as a sex addicted. He started watching explicit content and porn on internet when he was in 10^th standard and since then secretly, he watches it everywhere he goes. This happens when you don’t get enough knowledge but you are curious about it, that is when you start doing it secretly. You dig deeper to satisfy yourself mentally. And this is not only about him, I think more than half of the population does this. Sexual satisfaction is a part of life that everybody needs. When you don’t educate people about it, they try to find it their way wherever it is available, and here things get wrong.’ Despite porn is ban in India, India stands on third position as a porn watcher. As per Manav, banning porn is also a reason why people have become desperate to watch it.

Administration should come up with conducting workshops and seminars in schools to teach students about sex education. It should be considered as an upgradation of Indian education system. Talking about it openly is the only way to normalize the discussion around the topic, thinks Manav. Sex education is still not completely accepted in Indian education system despite of its significance in shaping a mindset of an individual. While experts call it ‘disappointing’, administration calls it ‘inappropriate’.