Maharashtra to ban sex education in schools

MUMBAI: Demonstrating yet again their small-town mentality, politicians in Maharashtra, cutting across party lines, on Friday decided not to impart sex education in schools. Moreover, the government even promised to ban books published by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on the subject.

This means schools in the state affiliated to the CBSE may not be allowed to include sex education in the syllabus. The government would impose a ban on sex education in CBSE schools in Maharashtra, minister of state for school education Hasan Mushreef told the legislative assembly.

Going even further, Mr Mushreef announced that the state government would also drop a plan to include sex education in the syllabus of schools affiliated to the state board.

The National Council for Education Research and Training (NCERT) and National Aids Control Organisation have drafted manuals on sex education for introduction at secondary school level. Maharashtra government, the minister assured the House, would not issue these manuals to CBSE schools.

The issue was first raised by the BJP in the legisla tive council on Thursday. Pandurang Phundkar, leader of the Opposition in the council, had sought government intervention.

In the assembly on Friday, however, what emerged was virtually an all-party opposition to sex education in schools. The members argued that introduction sex education at secondary school level could have a bad influence on students.