The Jharkhand government is in a fix over introducing sex education in schools following objections from political and religious bodies.
"We have not yet decided whether to implement sex education in schools. This is a serious issue and we will take a decision only after consulting scholars, politicians and other sections of the society," Bandhu Tirkey, Jharkhand's Human Resources Development (HRD) Minister, said Sunday."Without preparing the ground, it can create controversy in the state. We are looking into each aspect of it," Tirkey said.
Shaligram Yadav, chairperson of Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC), a government body that supervises school education in the state, is also against the idea of teaching school students sex education.
"This is a sensitive issue. AIDS awareness could be created by other ways among the students. We have to take the sentiment of the people into consideration before deciding on the issue. In the US, sex education was implemented way back in 1950 but it has lost its importance and we should take lessons from them," said Yadav.
Most religious leaders have opposed the idea of teaching sex education in schools.
"We cannot allow sex education in the name of creating AIDS awareness. The schools run by us will not teach sex education," said Paramjeet Singh Chana, secretary of Gurudwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha here.
"We will not promote any education which will be against the values of the Indian society," said Ignatius Toppo, head of an organisation of all Catholic schools in Jharkhand.
The Muslim leaders had taken out a protest rally here earlier this month.
Source-IANS
LIN/B
