In India, sex education is still taboo. It is ironically taught as part of social sciences in schools and colleges. The sex education provided at schools and colleges sometimes may be thought-provoking but could be incomplete and one-sided. In this article, we will take a look at the importance of sex education in schools and why it should be taught alongside other academic streams.
The need for comprehensive sex education in Indian schools
As per Research Conducted by International Boarding Schools in India, Sex education is a rapidly growing field in India. There are several reasons for this, including the fact that internet porn has become a major part of the lives of many young people.
But schools have been slow to teach sex education. They mostly stick to the basics, such as how boys and girls are different and how babies are made. These lessons are often taught through illustrations or videos without any context or information about their real-life effects.
Why is education important for girls and women? Sex education needs to be more comprehensive than just talking about condoms and STDs. It should also educate children on their rights, consent and sexual agency. This includes teaching them how they can protect themselves from unwanted sexual advances by using their voice or by walking away from an uncomfortable situation.
In addition to teaching young people about their bodies and their rights, it’s important to encourage them to speak up if they feel uncomfortable or unsafe around someone else’s actions or words. Schools need to provide safe spaces where students can discuss these issues without fear of judgement by teachers or other students
While the Indian government has taken sex education seriously, it continues to be a taboo subject in schools. But that needs to change.
The need for sex education has been recognised by the government and private bodies alike. In 2013, the ministry of health and family welfare launched a national programme on adolescent health (NPPAH), which included a curriculum for schools on reproductive and sexual health. The programme is currently being implemented by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
According to UNFPA, there are more than 25 million new cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) every year in India — most of them among people aged 15-24 years. A survey conducted by International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and Population Council found that one in three young people had their first sexual experience before reaching 18 years of age, with more than half of these experiences happening through forced sex or violence.
High rates of teenage pregnancy and STIs have led to high rates of death and disability among women aged 13-19 years due to unsafe abortions or complications during childbirth, according to the 2016 report on adolescent health by UNICEF.
The importance of educating students on consent and healthy relationships cannot be overstated
Comprehensive sex education
Comprehensive sex education is a curriculum that teaches students about both sexual and reproductive health. It covers topics such as body image, relationships, gender identity and sexual orientation. Comprehensive sex education is also called ‘abstinence-based’ or ‘comprehensive’ because it focuses on both abstinence and contraception.
However, many schools in India still offer only an abstinence-only curriculum. This type of teaching promotes the idea that sex outside marriage is wrong. It often doesn’t include information about birth control methods or STIs unless they are discussed in relation to pregnancy prevention.
The benefits of comprehensive sex education
Improved sexual and reproductive health outcomes
Young people who receive comprehensive sex education are more likely to delay their first sexual experience, use condoms when they do have sex, get tested for STIs and talk to their partners about contraception use before having intercourse.
Reduced rates of unwanted pregnancies and STIs
When students receive information about birth control methods (e.g., condoms) alongside abstinence from sexual activity, they are less likely to become pregnant or contract an STI than those who don’t receive this information at all.*
Challenges to implementing comprehensive sex education in Indian schools
In an ideal world, students would be taught about sex and sexuality in a comprehensive manner in schools. It would be part of their general education curriculum and not something that can be considered optional or taboo.
However, there are several challenges that prevent this from happening.
Social and cultural taboos surrounding discussions of sexuality
The first challenge is the social and cultural taboo surrounding discussions of sexuality. In the Indian context, sex is often viewed as a private matter that should not be discussed in public spaces like schools or colleges. This leads to a lack of open discussions on sexuality in these spaces which makes it hard for teachers to teach sex education effectively.
Sexuality has long been a taboo subject in India and other parts of South Asia, partly because of social conservatism but also due to ignorance about human anatomy and physiology.
For example, many young people are not aware that they have hymen until they lose them during their first sexual intercourse or experience vaginal bleeding during menstruation (a common cause of alarm among parents). Many others remain ignorant about how to use condoms correctly or when to seek medical help if they suspect that they have contracted an STI such as HIV/AIDS or another sexually transmitted infection (STI).
There are still many barriers to overcome in the elimination of gender-based violence against women and girls. But, as highlighted above, there are also lessons that can be learned from South Africa’s innovative approach to addressing such a complex problem.
Combining ideas from both the medical and education fields, South African leaders have created a promising framework for combating gender-based violence that is worth studying for its effectiveness and for how it might be applicable in similar situations.
Limited resources and a lack of trained educators
Another challenge is that most schools do not have adequate resources for teaching sex education. They also lack trained educators who can conduct such classes effectively and in an age-appropriate manner. Schools may not even have trained teachers who can teach other subjects like math or science effectively because they are given only two or three days of training before being put into classrooms full of students!
Resistance from conservative groups and policymakers
Another major challenge is the resistance from conservative groups and policymakers who believe that teaching about contraceptives encourages promiscuity among students which goes against
Sex education is vital for the healthy development of young people. It is also important for their future sexual relationships and health. However, despite its merits, comprehensive sex education is not currently taught in schools in India.
There are various reasons why schools in India need to teach sex education. The first is that it will help students obtain basic information about their bodies and sexuality, which they may not learn at home. The second is that it can protect them against STIs (sexually transmitted infections) and unwanted pregnancy. The third is that it can help prevent teen pregnancies, one of the biggest challenges facing India today.
Conclusion
It is paradoxical that at a time when HIV/AIDS has become a major public health and human rights issue for India, sex education remains absent from its school curricula. As a result, students have no choice but to turn to the internet for their information on sex and sexuality, furthering the risk of exposure to sexually transmitted infections.
The education system is clearly failing its students in this regard, leaving them without the tools they need both to engage in safe and healthy sexual relationships, and to protect themselves from possible infection.
While the concept of sex education was once largely shunned, there has been a recent rise in the popularity of the approach. There is still a long way to go, though, before we can truly begin to see a change in India.
With that being said, I truly believe that future generations can benefit from sex education programs like this. We have just begun our journey—there’s still more work to do and lessons to learn about what makes for an effective and meaningful initiative.
For any queries related to parenting, schooling, or any student-related tips, click here to check out our latest blogs.
