Mah govt bans sex education books

Mumbai, Mar 30 (UNI) Maharashtra Government today announced a ban on sex education books of CBSE curriculam in the State and said there were no plans to introduce sex education as a subject in schools here.

This was announced in the Legislative Assembly by minister of state for School Education Hassan Mushrif, while replying to a calling attention notice by Rajendra Patni (Shiv Sena), Shobha Phadanvis (BJP) and others.

Mr Mushrif said the proposed introduction of 'adolescence life skills' programme in the school curriculam, which was to be introduced from next academic year, stands cancelled.

He said the sex education books included in the CBSE syllabus would be banned under the same provisions under which the controversial book on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj by James Laine was banned.

The house witnessed noisy scenes as members of the opposition and treasury benches shouted slogans even as the minister was making his statement.

Legislators expressed their strong sentiments against introduction of sex education as a subject in the school syllabus.

They tore the CBSE books on the subject in the house. The members rushed to the well and gheraoed the minister, resulting in adjournment for 30 minutes. The minister announced the 'ban' on the concerned CBSE books after the house resumed proceedings, adding that the proposed adolescence life skill programme, which was to have been implemented from the next academic year, was being cancelled.

UNI