January 8, 2013, 12:00 am
The state government has asked the state board to consider revising its modules on sex and gender issues. The move comes in the wake of concerns over gender violence and the gang rape incident in Delhi last month that has sparked both protests and introspection.
The state board has such modules included in a few subjects at the secondary level. �These issues are already a part of the syllabus in the appropriate classes, we have just asked the board if there is a need to revise any of the modules,� said JS Saharia, additional chief secretary of the school education department. �We are looking at what others are doing and if there is a need for more emphasis in one area or another. These are periodic revisions and with changing times we keep revising our syllabi.�
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) had last week announced that it will introduce special modules on gender sensitisation and possibly an optional subject on human rights and gender in Classes 11 and 12 in 2013.
On Sunday, at a function in Kochi, human resources development minister M Pallam Raju was reported as having said that he would talk to the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) on including aspects related to gender sensitivity and respect towards women in the curriculum.
�Officially, we have not heard from the CBSE board. However, some steps have to be taken,� said Deepshikha Srivastava, principal of Rajhans Vidyalaya in Andheri.
Schools said that such modules were already being delivered in various forms. CBSE schools have a segment on value education included in various subjects.
�We are very particular on value-based education and various things are included such as good touch-bad touch, adolescent management and substance abuse,� said Indu Mathur, principal of Apeejay School in Kharghar.
