Sex education in schools: A critical need to protect children and ensure their well-being

Sowmya Raju | NT

Bengaluru: Sex education in schools is an important part of ensuring students that they have the right knowledge and skills about their sexual health and well-being.

It can also help prevent unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and sexual violence. Sex education can teach students about consent, body safety, and how to identify and report abuse.

U. Sangeetha counselling psychologist and a parent opines, “Students have exposure to so many sources and they can take it the wrong way. If they were informed by the school authorities, they can be educated in the right way.”

Importance

In 2022, more than 1,000 teenage pregnancies were recorded at Vanivilas Women and Children's Hospital in Bengaluru.

Out of these, approximately 30% were reported to the police as Pocso cases, while underaged marriage was identified as the underlying reason for pregnancy in 70% of these instances.

Sex education can teach students about contraception and how to prevent STIs. It can also help them to develop healthy relationships and make responsible decisions about their sexual health.

Taboo and hush hush

Despite the clear benefits of sex education, there is still some resistance to it in India. Some people believe that sex education is inappropriate for children and that it should be left to parents to teach their children about sex.

Others believe that sex education will promote promiscuity among young people. Sangeetha emphasised that comprehensive sex education can bring advantages to parents, students, and society as a whole.

She explained, "It equips students with knowledge about their sexual health. In cases where parents feel uncomfortable or consider such discussions taboo, the school assuming this responsibility can be more beneficial. As each generation of well-informed citizens graduates, it contributes to long-term societal ease."

Misconceptions

Sex education encompasses more than just discussing sexual acts. Srimathy Raman, a consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Rangadore Memorial Hospital, emphasised that it includes educating students about their own bodies, particularly during the stages of puberty.

She elaborated, "It involves teaching students about their bodies in a gradual, age-appropriate manner, commencing with puberty, addressing topics like menstruation and hormonal changes for girls in their early teens, and then progressing to discussions about contraceptives and related matters."

She also cautioned that during early adolescence, there is often a surge of excitement and curiosity, and obtaining information from unreliable sources can lead to misconceptions about one's sexual health.

What should be done?

While the concept of sex education in Indian schools has made significant progress, Srimathy Raman believes there is still a considerable journey ahead.

She expressed her viewpoint, stating, "The most effective way to promote sex education is by empowering the educators."

She explained, "When we equip the teachers with the necessary knowledge and skills, they, in turn, can enlighten 60 to 100 students each."

Raman emphasised that including a dedicated chapter on sex education is essential, and this education is not limited to girls alone; boys also need to understand the changes their bodies undergo.