A seminar on Adolescence Education Programme (AEP) – Objection and Suggestion was organised at Indian Merchant Chamber, Mumbai on April 28.
While inaugurating the seminar, Justice (Retd.) Chandra Shekhar Dharamadhikari questioned whether it is mandatory to copy everything from the West as it is. He further challenged the authority when he questioned how much it is fruitful instigate teenagers to use condoms for avoiding AIDS. The controversial syllabus mentions more than 60 times that condom is the only solution to prevent AIDS and other STDs. He also challenged the government’s stand to import Western sex education syllabus as the government’s proposed syllabus is designed by UNICEF for schoolchildren.
Justice Dharamadhikari suggested that specialist doctors, educationists and psychiatrists should design a value-based syllabus according to our culture. Moreover, it should be taught not by teachers but by expert doctors and not in co-ed schools but separately. If the students were taught in a wrong way then the consequences would definitely be wrong. Parents should take it seriously, he stressed.
Dr. L.R. Khan (psychiatrist), raised questions like, who is the author of the proposed book on Adolescence Education Programme? Is HIV /AIDS the only health problem? He claimed that hepatitis, amoebas, TB, dengue, and mental morbidity are much larger problems in the country than AIDS. Therefore, he suggested there should be health education not sex education.
Stress has been laid a number of times to use condom correctly and consistently in this book. Is this the need to teach minors about using condom? Or only abstinence can prevent one from this fatal disease and the person should be faithful only to his wife. He advised the students to keep safe distance from sexual activities.
Dr. Uma Tendolkar, additional project Director for MDACS (Mumbai District AIDS Control Society) explained that AIDS is the infectious and fatal disease and only its infection can be prevented; hence we should put all efforts to control this fatal disease. She added that nothing could be 100% full proof so how can the use of condom be. She has stressed giving proper and required information and physiological knowledge at right age to the students.
Dr. Thelma explained that SASEP (School Adolescence Sex Education Programme) started in 1993. She started it first in around 200 missionary schools. It was initially imparted by 200 trained doctors whereas boys were taught by male doctors and girls were by female doctors. She finally admitted that UNICEF designed programme material is much explicit hence; it should not be implemented as it is. “We require to impart value education,” she said.
Mr. Purshothaman Mulloli, General convenor, Jack India, from New Delhi, pointed out that it is all to impose western culture and he clarified that the facts and figures mentioned in the proposed book are totally fake as they are made on assumptions.
He questioned if only 26000 prostitutes live at Kamatipura in Mumbai then how it could be possible that 82000 people are suffering from HIV infection which is 65% of the total prostitutes living in the area. The parliament is to give answer this question. Dr. (Mrs) Ashwini Bhalerao Gandhi, a gynaecologist and reproductive health specialist, presented a nice presentation on why it is necessary to give sex education. The present system of family does not permit students to get proper knowledge; hence sex education by the experts must be given properly, she suggested. The presidential speech was delivered by Dr. Shakeel Ahmed, General Secretary Ideal Relief Committee Gujarat. He put forth both the views and raised several questions which were required to be answered.
Youngsters are the capital of the society; there should be development in social, biological, cultural, civilizational aspects of the nation. Most of the things are learnt automatically and no teachers are required for them. Sex is not only the source of enjoyment but a tool to empower and develop the morality and spirituality which will basically help develop the nation. STD is directly related to urbanisation; hence the government should take it seriously with respect to our culture and need. There should be constitutional barriers for sex education, he pleaded. This seminar was organised by prominent organisations like Jamaat-e-Islami, Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO), Sadbhavna Sangh, Bombay Junior College Teachers Union, Tanzeem-e-Waledaen, Ghar Hakk Jagruti Parishad, Vardhaman Sanskar Dham, Society and You, Flank Road Citizens Forum, At-Tauheed International Dawah Centre for Women, Forum for Fairness in Education, etc.