Discussing sex, but not in hushed tones: Kerala launches comprehensive sexuality education programme

Also read: Kerala High Court calls for sex education drive in schools

Project X

Showing the way is Kerala’s capital district Thiruvananthapuram as it has rolled out a comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) programme called “Project X” in schools.

A government-level initiative to impart CSE among school children is happening in the state for the first time.

The programme targets teenagers in the district by giving them a sound understanding of the cognitive, emotional, physical and social aspects of sexuality and helps them to bust many myths related to sex.

A joint initiative of the Thiruvananthapuram district administration, the General Education Department, and Kanal, an NGO that works with women and children, Project X was launched on 25 July.

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is also a stakeholder in the project.

The funding of the project is shared by the district administration and Guidehouse India Private Limited, a consulting service provider, through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) fund.

The project, to be implemented in a phased manner, will first cover 5,000 students from 50 government schools. In the next phases, more schools, including private ones, will be roped in.

Why Project X?

Announcing Project X’s launch, Thiruvananthapuram District Collector Geromic George said in a Facebook post on 25 July that the initiative would help to raise a generation who could prevent and handle sexual abuse fearlessly.

“The key takeaway of this project is that it reinforces healthy and positive values about bodies, puberty, relationships, sex, and family life among the next generation,” reads an excerpt from the post.

However, Kanal’s Founder-Director Anson PD Alexander told South First that challenging and changing the taboos that were sometimes associated with sex and sexual health would be an uphill task.

“Making the targeted group able to make informed and responsible decisions, equipping them to understand issues around consent, making them aware of the benefits of stable relationships, and alerting them to risks of unprotected sex are the priorities of the project,” said Anson.

Also read: How gender equality drive in Kerala schools has been derailed

Key Takeaways from Project X

While Kanal states that it had prepared an age-specific CSE syllabus, it shared a general curriculum outline of the programme with South First.

And it includes:

• Introduction to human sexuality

• Relationships — their types and characteristics

• Sexual orientation and gender identity

• Reproductive health — awareness of contraception and sexually transmitted diseases

• Responsible sexual behaviour — awareness of consent and influence of porn

• Sexual hygiene

• Sexual rights

The NGO also added that the syllabus may vary depending on the age, maturity, and cultural background of the learners.

‘Only negligible percent received CSE’

According to Anson, studies conducted by Kanal gave major insights regarding the lack of formal sex education among people.

“We could identify, from the students we engaged with, that only a negligible percent — that is 0.5 to 1 percent of students — received CSE, that too from some camps or organisations which are not part of the school curriculum,” said Anson.

He added, “A majority of the male students were receiving information from the internet or peer group discussions which were not authentic and accurate.”

Only 10-12 percent of students received basic sex education from their families. The awareness level regarding basic concepts of sex education among parents was also very low.

Also read: Meet Rehana Fathima, who paid a heavy price for airing her views

Need of CSE in Kerala

Though scores of incidents of sexual misconduct by the Gen Z are reported daily, the question why it is happening has been ignored, rather deliberately.

An educator explaining the use of a menstrual cup. (Supplied)

The answer to it can be found in a judgement of the Kerala High Court on 23 June when it considered a writ petition for terminating the pregnancy of a minor girl aged 15 years.

In the petition, moved by the girl’s father, it was stated that she was impregnated by her minor brother.

Authoring the judgement, that disposed of the writ petition as the minor girl gave birth, Justice PV Kunhikrishnan said that sibling incest may take place in the context of a family system that does not provide a safe environment for its members.

He said that it may also happen because of the lack of knowledge about safe sex.

“Minor children are in front of the internet and Google search. There is no guidance for the children. The government should constitute a committee, if necessary, to study the issue and should think about including ‘safe sex education’ in the curriculum of schools and colleges,” reads an excerpt from the judgement.

The court also directed the registry to forward a copy of the judgement to the state chief secretary so that he could take “appropriate action in the light of the facts and circumstances of this case”.

At the same time, Dr Arun B Nair, a professor in the Department of Psychiatry of Government Medical College Thiruvananthapuram, told South First that CSE is yet to be accepted as essential by a section of society.

“A section of people, including parents, are averse to CSE. They consider it as planting ideas (about sex) in the minds of children. But such concerns are unfounded,” said Dr Nair.

According to him, studies have shown that instead of promoting early or risky sexual activity, a well-designed and well-delivered sex education programme would support positive decision-making around sexual health.

A word of caution

At the same time, noted psychiatrist and writer Dr CJ John told South First that CSE should start at an early age and parents should become the first trainers.

Educators during a programme as part of Project X. (Supplied)

“Sex education is one thing that parents and teachers would prefer to avoid. But it matters at the individual level and the community level,” said John.

He added that CSE should not become a one-way communication but an interactive exercise where a trainer could provide satisfactory and scientific answers to questions related to sex.

“It should also be remembered that the needs of boys will be different to that of girls and this aspect should be acknowledged while imparting CSE. If carried out properly, it could establish the foundation for healthy relationships throughout life,” added John.

Also read: SC stays order on counselling for girl in a same-sex relationship

Why CSE?

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), young people are turning to digital spaces for information on bodies, relationships, and sexuality “than ever before”, and it is a “concern”.

An image from the inauguration ceremony of Project X. (Supplied)

In an article titled Comprehensive sexuality education: For healthy, informed and empowered learners published on 22 June, UNESCO observed that with the rapid expansion in digital information and education, the sex education landscape was also changing.

“Children and young people are increasingly exposed to a broad range of content online, some of which may be incomplete, poorly informed or harmful,” reads an excerpt from the article.

Highlighting the need for sexual education, UNESCO observed that it would lead learners to delay the age of sexual initiation, increase the use of condoms and other contraceptives when they are sexually active, increase their knowledge about their bodies and relationships, decrease their risk-taking, and decreasing the frequency of unprotected sex.

Earlier, the United Nations Human Rights Council, in a report by its special rapporteur, had stated that CSE should not be obstructed in the name of religious and cultural values and beliefs, which were mostly related to the persistence of patriarchy.