House Panel Seeks Parents' Views On Sex Education

New Delhi, Oct 1 (UNI) Parents and other citizens were invited today by a Parliamentary committee to give their suggestions on a controversial move to introduce sex education in schools, it was announced.

The announcement acknowledged ''severe criticism'' of the Human Resource Development Ministry's steps to introduce sex education in schools affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education.

The Parliamentary Affairs Ministry said the exercise initiated by the Rajya Sabha's Committee on Petitions is intended to generate a nationwide debate.

The Committee will hold consultations with educationists, sociologists, psychologists, sexologists, spiritual leaders, teachers, parents and other stakeholders, it said.

The Committee chaired by Bharatiya Janata Party member M Venkaiah Naidu from Karnataka acted on two petitions seeking a consensus before any sex-education is introduced.

''There has been severe criticism from certain quarters,'' the announcement said, referring to the move to introduce Adolescence Education Programme or sex education.

As many as ten States have reportedly declined to introduce the AE Programme which is under fire as likely to make school kids sexually active, undermining family and other traditional values.

Members of the public have been invited to send memoranda-- two copies each in English and Hindi-- to Rajya Sabha Secretariat Joint Director J Sundrial at Parliament House Annee in New Delhi within 30 days.

They may also indicate if they wish to give oral evidence before the Committee, the announcement said.

UNI