Prevention of sexual violence to be on curricula for Class VI to XII kids

Panaji: For students of Class VI to XII, education on some topics related to puberty and prevention of sexual violence will be introduced from the current academic year, under the central government’s Jannani scheme, as part of the Goa Samagra Shiksha programme.
Schools have been told that the topics are being introduced as per recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasises on gender equity.
Girls and boys will be taught about the good touch and the bad touch and about changes in the body during puberty, besides they will be taught about diet and nutrition to be followed at puberty. However, for female students, some additional subjects will be taught like protecting oneself from sexual violence, safe and unsafe places and menstrual hygiene and management.
School heads have been asked to appoint a senior lady teacher to coordinate the programme in their institutions.
An amount of Rs 5,000 will be provided to the government and aided-schools and higher secondary schools in Goa to implement the Jannani programme.
“Educating adolescent girls will be the only way to enhance their self-esteem and self-confidence to familiarise them with the status and problems related to women. This programme (Jannani) will also help adolescent girls to understand the physical and psychological changes they are undergoing and the scientific reasons behind the change,” circular to schools said.
Schools have been told to cover students in the age group of 12 to 18 under the programme and a minimum of 50 girls should attend the programme.
However, the state Victim Assistance Unit (VAU) incharge Emidio Pinho said that it is not right that the subjects of safe and unsafe places and protecting oneself from sexual violence are not being taught to boys.
“Of the cases that come to us, 31% involve boys. There is a need to start offering sex education to children and to train them on how to keep themselves safe even in the family environment. This is because we get several cases of sexual predators within the family as well. This education should start for children right from Class VI,” said Pinho.
The Goa Samagra Shiksha has warned institutes that the school teaching staff, counsellor or physical education teacher should not be used as a resource person for the Jannani programme.
“Eminent professionals from the local community such as doctors, nutritionists, social workers, counsellors and psychologists will be invited to conduct the selected session on the topics as per their expertise. For every topic a different resource person should be arranged. Every institution may organise sessions or demos on minimum four topics mentioned, in the period of a week,” the circular to the schools said.