NCPCR Takes Action: UP, Haryana Schools Under Scrutiny for Using Non-Binary Term in Survey

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has issued a notice to the education departments of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana over the use of the term non-binary in a question related to gender by Delhi-NCR-based Shiv Nadar schools.

New Delhi: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has taken cognizance of the use of the term "non-binary" in a question related to gender by Delhi-NCR-based Shiv Nadar schools and issued notices to the education departments of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

School Responds

In response to the notice, a spokesperson for the school stated, "As of now, we are not aware of any such notice; hence, we cannot offer any comment."

NCPCR's Concerns

The NCPCR received a complaint regarding the use of inappropriate terminology by these schools with respect to a child's gender. The complaint highlighted that the school's Parents Feedback Survey included a question on a child's gender, with the options being "Female," "Male," and "Non-binary."

The NCPCR noted that the Transgender Persons Protection of Rights Act, 2019, defines and uses the term "transgender," while the National Education Policy (NEP) refers to transgender children/students and does not use any other term.

NCPCR's Directive

In light of these concerns, the NCPCR has directed the state governments of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to ensure that no school uses any term that does not align with the NEP and the Transgender Persons Protection of Rights Act, 2019.

Conclusion

The NCPCR's intervention underscores the importance of using appropriate terminology when discussing gender identity, particularly in educational contexts. It remains to be seen how the state governments and the school will respond to the notice and whether any changes will be made to the school's survey.