Imparting Sex-education in schools

Imparting Sex-education in schools
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Imparting Sex-education in the schools of India is a highly complicated and delicate subject. Some scholars and educationists are of the opinion that it should be introduced in the syllabi or curriculum of the schools. Some educationists are quite against it. So, it has become a subject of debate. Due to the rapid development in the field of science and technology, the children of modern age know more about many things than what their parents, grandfathers and grandmothers knew at the same age. Adoption of liberal views by youths has been increasing day by day. It is a result of the mass media and onslaught of the foreign channels. Now, parents and guardians of the children feel that the foreign media is fostering negative impact in the minds of youngsters. Survey conducted by many NGOs express that on an average, every urban student watches television for 2 (Two) hours daily. The overdose of vulgarity and crudity shown in Indian cinema and videos has been causing adverse and harmful affect on youths.
HIV and AIDS are dreaded and lethal diseases. Healthy person is infected with this dreaded disease mostly as a result of having physical relationship with the victim of AIDS. So far, science has not invented any cure for this disease. The virus HIV causing AIDS slowly but steadily deteriorates the immune system and ultimately kills the affected person. The person becomes the host of many diseases, such as severe weight loss, weakness, diarrhea, pneumonia. Owing to prejudice members of the family and medical profession generally do not care for the patient. Parents must educate their children about this disease. Parents should also educate their children about upholding moral and ethical values. They should also explain them the significance of having only one sex partner and bad effect of moral degradation caused by pre-marital sex or extra marital sex. One another reason in favour of imparting sex education in schools is spurt in incidents of physical assault on minors. According to the remarks of W.H.O, 10 percent children are sexually abused. Parents feel shy for educating their children against such abuse by the elders, so such incidents occur. Children happen to be naïve, consequently falling victim to the advances of elders. It has been observed that in most of the cases of sexual abuse, guilty of assault are known to the victims. The victims have to live with trauma through out their lives. So, parents should educate their children specially minors to avoid talking to strangers and not to be lured by gifts and sweets. Parents should foster in the minds of children at their early stage simple etiquettes, mannerisms and ideal behaviour. They should also teach their children how to sit, talk and hold oneself in the company of elders. Parents must always strive to guard their children.

During the period of adolescence the children experience mental and physical change.
They are moved or swayed by emotions and imaginations. They behold the world in mature way. At this stage, parents treat them as children where as they want to assert their age. At this stage, at the time of interaction, generation gap between parents and their children widens. Parents hesitate to discuss about the problems faced by their teenaged children. By nature, the children happen to be inquisitive, so, they turn to their friends. They get access to misinformation through cheap pornographic literature or videos. These materials instill in their young minds the perverse ideas. As a result of this, boys seek carnal gratification at the hands of prostitutes or immoral women who care little about personal hygiene. Some girls are also easily duped or ensnared by boys. For carnal pleasure, some shy girls use various types of sex tools and contraceptives. Such gullible teenagers fall victim to sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhoea, chlamydiasis, syphilis and trichomoniasis. Due to the lack of knowledge about the adverse e1fects of maintaining physical relationship with a boy, some girls have teenage pregnancies and abortions. Many girls are easily duped in to such relationships because of lack of proper guidance at home.

In India, most of the parents hide their love and affection towards each other, in presence of their children. On the occasion of displaying of love for their spouse, they resort to the (stiff upper lip) tradition of the British. The children anticipate and believe that love is taboo and it is perverse to display one's affection in public. It arouses their curiosity to know more about sex, in theory or in practical. Attraction towards the person of opposite increases. It makes the children desirous of developing friendship with the person of opposite sex. Contrary to this, display of proximity by a boy or a girl by shaking hands, walking hand-in-hand or even talking becomes a matter of attention, discourse or ridicule. Parents must strive to understand the psyche of their children. Parents should initiate their children the meaning of love. Parents display love for their children by giving gifts, sharing and caring for them. It can be shown for each other too by behaving like perfectly normal friends. Such a demeanor of the parents toward each other would foster in the minds of the children the sense, that love not only means sharing and caring for each other. But it also means accepting the responsibility of the other.
The period of adolescence is a crucial period of life. Parents should befriend their children to cope up with the changes they under go during this period. Parents must give proper guidance to their children during the period of adolescence. The children will not be vulnerable to immoral acts, if, secure family ambience is created in their growing age. Parents must talk with their children more often in friendly way to provide them with the feeling of security in the family. It will be conducive for children to reveal their problem and help the parents to root out the cause. Some times, parents should interact with the companions of their children. It will help to know their background and understand their mindset or psyche. Time to time, parents must warn their children against developing friendship with immoral persons. The parents should take in their children as confidants. The parents should also divulge some of their misadventures indulged in, when they were young. They should also explain their children that it was because of improper or lack of guidance. To help children to face their life properly, the parents should tell them about the repercussions of such misadventures in later life.

According to the modern trend, the student life remains around 25 years of age, sometimes even more. Parents, guardians and well wishers should tell children that love-life should begin after student life, as higher education would give them awareness and maturity to tackle the problems as well as to shoulder the responsibilities. We should persuade and convince the youths that every stage in life comes at a certain age and stays for a certain period. Life advances in this way - infancy, school life, college life and then pursuit of an occupation. Every stage gives way to next stage because no stage repeats itself. We should not shirk the responsibility in inculcating the true essence of love in children. There would be reduction in several crimes, if we shoulder the responsibility of grooming and educating the children/youths in a proper way.

Imparting of AIDS education and Sex education in schools has become a matter of debate.
Some NGOs tried to introduce training programmes pertaining to AIDS and HIV Awareness, but, this effort was discouraged by Ms. Janaki Rajan, the Director of State Council for Educational Research and Training (New Delhi) and many other educationist and State Govts. It was said that there are other serious and more important issues than these. so these issues must be resolved first. Janaki Rajan said that the mindset of several teachers is such that they punish adolescent students even for minor or trifle reasons. She further added that, in such a scenario where the physical security of a child was not assured, it was of no use to introduce HIV or AIDS related training or syllabi in school curriculum.

Home is the first school for a child and school is the second home for a child consequently school should also realize the responsibility towards children. For child, home is the first place of learning. However, school life remains an integral part of child's development. There are two schools of thought pertaining to introduction of sex education in schools.

The persons who are in favour of imparting sex education in schools assert that, if, parents shoulder their responsibility, the mission of schools in propagating sex education among the students, could be achieved. Parents might find it difficult to teach their children, the lessons related to sex education. In schools, they could be collectively educated with the help of special teachers, psychologists or medical consultants. At the time of imparting sex education in schools, the boys and girls should be divided in to two groups (one for Boys and the other for Girls). Applying this strategy, the children will not feel shy and embarrassed. As a result of this, the students can get clarified their doubts and queries. Sometimes, parents find it impossible to resolve the riddles or complicated questions of their children. Such situation should be tackled by experts. Many of the myths prevalent among children will be dispelled, if sex education in proper way is imparted in schools. It will also be conducive in discouraging access to obscene literature. It will root out many misconceptions prevalent in the society.

The other school of thought is quite against the introduction of sex education in schools.
It asserts that it will deteriorate the situation. It will excite them to develop physical relationship with opposite sex. Their curiosity to know and do will increase; consequently, there are certain chances to fall victim of immoral acts. It is against the culture and tradition of our country. Furthermore, there is galore of medicines and objects meant for birth control and for other sex related matters. Advertisement about all such things is made through television or magazines. So, immoral girls do not worry or hesitate to establish physical relationship with boys, in this way, imparting of sex education in schools will increase sex related crimes. In co-educational institutions, where proximity or access with the person of opposite sex is natural and easy, so, imparting sex-education will be highly detrimental.

After minutely discerning the Pros and Cons, of imparting sex education in schools, I believe that the demerits are more than merits. In my view, the ratio of merits and demerits of imparting Sex Education in Schools will be 10:90 respectively.

G.B.S. Thapa, Assam Rifles School, Kohima, Nagaland.