Centre revising sex education content, asks states to do so

New Delhi, Mar 10 (UNI) In the wake of objections from various quarters, the Centre has directed all the states and Union Territories to review the content of sex education, Parliament was informed today.

Minister of State for Human Resource Development M A A Fatmi told the Rajya Sabha, in a written reply that the states have been asked to revise the material in the context of local environment and socio-cultural ethos.

Besides, National AIDS Control Organisation(NACO) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has set up a committee to review the material pertaining to Adolescence Education Programme, he said.

He said the Adolescence Education Programme was launched by the Ministry in collaboration with NACO for implementation by all states.

The framework of the programme incorporated three major concerns of adolescence--process of growing up during this period, prevention of HIV/AIDS and prevention of substance abuse.

The programme was meant for students of secondary and higher-secondary schools and was an effort to help them acquire life skills so that they avoid risky situations and take informed decisions and develop healthy and responsible behaviour, he added.

However, the government decided to set up the revising committee after it received criticism in media regarding appropriateness of the material used in the programme, Mr Fatmi said.

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