India revamps sex ed - focus shifts to abstinence, the words "intercourse" and "masturbation" will no longer be mentioned

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

''Intercourse'' and ''masturbation'' are words that will find no mention in a new sex education module being devised for school students in India, large parts of which remain highly conservative.

Unlike last time, there will be no ''graphic'' flip charts either. The new adolescent education programme may roll out in November.

The officials behind it are hoping there will be no hue and cry like last time when six states banned it, saying it was too explicit and would corrupt the minds of the young.

''This time we have undertaken a series of consultations, involving conservative as well as progressive people and groups before finalising the module,'' National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) director general Sujatha Rao said.

''Words like 'intercourse' and 'masturbation' will not be mentioned as we are not teaching them the Kama Sutra,'' Rao clarified. Public opinion will also be sought this time, she said.

The decision to introduce sex education in India's schools was aimed primarily at creating awareness about HIV/AIDS, with the country being home to 2.5 million patients of the disease. But the module created a furore.

One of the main points of objection was a flip chart prepared jointly by Unicef and government-controlled NACO for teachers. But educationists themselves turned against it.

After states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka banned the programme, NACO formed a committee last year and after endless parleys managed to finalise a new tool kit.

Agreeing that the earlier texts had ''too much sex'', Rao said the current one would be more interactive and user-friendly, with not too many illustrations and drawings.

Though safe sex tools like condoms will be mentioned, the focus will be on ''abstaining''.

Having burnt its hands earlier, NACO said this time it would first pass the module to each state education department for a feedback.

''We went through an elaborate consultation process to prepare the toolkit. The final prototype (of the module) will be ready by July and will be sent to state education secretaries for their feedback, which we will consider.''

''The module will not have any explicit details about sex and sexuality and will rather discuss the physical changes a girl or boy goes through. It will go through various stages before being finalised,'' Rao said.

Pitching for the module, Rao said: ''It is a well-done module that is required for the age group of 15 to 19 years. This is the time when they need to understand about respecting relationships.''

http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story...%201:26:00%20AM

[Amby 490]

why didn't they teach us kama sutra in sex ed at my school?

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

why didn't they teach us kama sutra in sex ed at my school?

cause it woulda been an easy A for you.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Genius... We know how well abstinence programmes work don't we...

[mawilson 2,133]

Genius... We know how well abstinence programmes work don't we...

They work perfectly well, thank you very much.

[Jenn! 918]

Um, masturbation is an integral part of abstinence.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Genius... We know how well abstinence programmes work don't we...

They work perfectly well, thank you very much.

They work in principle - but not as a matter of actual practical policy.

Edited June 18, 2008 by Number 6

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Um, masturbation is an integral part of abstinence.

I went to high school in India. I remember our school inviting a religious figure to speak to us in the 10th grade. He told us masturbation was bad because it robbed us of 'vital energy' our growing bodies needed. Even then, we knew it was BS.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Take a shower man!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Take a shower man!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Um, masturbation is an integral part of abstinence.

I went to high school in India. I remember our school inviting a religious figure to speak to us in the 10th grade. He told us masturbation was bad because it robbed us of 'vital energy' our growing bodies needed. Even then, we knew it was BS.

Yeah that's a bad one... "Going blind" would have been more plausible.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

This was a Hindu religious figure. Going blind just isn't mystical and mysterious enough.

[Amby 490]

does sex also take away vital energy you need to grow?

[JVKn'CVO 11]

Um, masturbation is an integral part of abstinence.

Maybe a module on cold showers, knitting and sudoku?

Saludos,

Caro

[AnaAndDaniel 0]

could work. the other programme has not really worked.

Daniel