TITLE

IS YOUTH OF INDIA READY FOR SEX EDUCATION?

(A STUDY ON OPINIONS TOWARDS SEX EDUCATION
AMONG ADOLESCENT STUDENTS, THEIR PARENTS
& TEACHERS IN MUMBAI CITY)

Assitant Prof. Seema Rawat

Chandrabhan Sharma College of Arts,
Science & Commerce, Powai
negi_seema82@yahoo.co.in. ,
Mob.No. 9892515272 / 976906557

ABSTRACT
Sex is a very sensitive subject and public discussion on sexual matters is considered as a
taboo in Indian society. This taboo can be seen to extend into the education system.
Introducing sex education at school level always attracted objections and apprehensions from
many quarters. Sex education programme has been banned in six states which include
Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka, following
protests from legislators that it would have a negative impact on the vulnerable minds of
students. There is a debate going on currently about the advisability of providing basic sex
education to school children in the state of Maharashtra.
The aim of this study was to determine students' exposure to sex education. The paper
focuses on attitude of adolescent, their parents and teachers towards sex education. A survey
was carried out in three degree colleges in Mumbai, covering teachers, students and their
parents .The study found a strong willingness of adolescents, particularly females towards the
wide- spread implementation of sex education .It also revealed that majority of teachers was
in favour of imparting sex education to students as it helped them to develop critical thinking
and insights on range of family life. It helped to prevent adolescent pregnancy, abortion,
HIV/AIDS and sexual abuse.
Key words: sex education, protests from legislators, attitude of adolescent, their parents
and teachers.

INTRODUCTION:
One of the much debated topics across the world is the importance of sex education in
schools. In India, the topic has already created a stir and lot of anxieties among the citizens,
particularly when there is huge outcry among people for the rising number sexual violence.
At this juncture, we should stop and think if we really need to introduce the topic as school
curriculum to change the perceptions of our future generations.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

1. To determine students' exposure to sex education.
2. To study attitude of adolescent, their parents and teachers towards sex education.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:
The population of the study covers the college boys and girls above age of 16 in Mumbai city.
The study also covers their parents and teachers. The study involved both primary and
secondary data. The primary data was collected by having a structured questionnaire. The
study used purposive sampling methods to collect the data. The secondary data includes the
publications in the form of books and journals. The relevant web-sites and unpublished
information is used for the study.
LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY:
1
2

The area covers under the study is Mumbai city.

The sampling method of data collection is followed. Thus limitations of the same are
present in the study.

IMPORTANCE OF STUDY:
Adolescence is a time when young people experience changes in their bodies among which is
the development of new sexual feeling, which they may not understand. Children and
teenagers are exposed to a barrage of information related to sexuality which will require
guidance from families and schools for healthy sexual development and responsible
behaviour. Teens continue to look to their parents for guidance and support. It is usually
difficult for parents to have comfortable conversations on sexual topics with their adolescent
children. Similarly adolescents do not feel comfortable having to discuss issues pertaining to
their sexual feelings with their parents or other family members. They therefore need a place
where they will obtain accurate information and be able to discuss their feelings. The schoolbased sexuality education programmes can offer them these opportunities and teachers are in
the position to handle these. Due to impact of Western civilization, there is need to
supplement the training of young people in the art of family life by their parents and family
members with a school-based sexuality education programme. Therefore, it is required to
study, to what extent students are exposed to sex education. Again, it is required to study

how teachers and parents perceive their role in imparting sex education at home and school
respectively.
MEANING OF SEX EDUCATION:
Sex education is a lifelong process of building a strong foundation for ones sexual health. It
includes the course of developing attitudes, beliefs and values and acquiring information,
motivation, skills and critical awareness to enhance ones sexual health and avoid negative
sexual consequences. Sex education involves more than sexual development and reproductive
health; it encompasses interpersonal relationships, affection, intimacy, body image, values
and gender roles.

IS SEX EDUCATION AGAINST OUR CULTURE?

India's new health minister Harsh Vardhan has generated a controversy recently by stating in
his website that sex-education in schools should be banned. Vardhan, himself a doctor, has
said, "So-called 'sex education' (should) to be banned." His website also states the need to
integrate value education with course content and put strong emphasis on exposing students
to India's cultural relations.
A parliamentary committee in 2009 headed by veteran BJP leader M. Venkiah Naidu decided
that it was against the ethos of our society and would uproot the cultural values that weve
cherished since the Vedic Age. The committee went on to suggest that topics like HIV/AIDS
and Physical and Mental Development in Adolescents shouldnt be included in the syllabus
until Class 12 and should only be included in Biology.
If we consider ancient India, sex was never a taboo subject. Were the land which created the
Kama Sutra somewhere around 400 BC. Ancient Indian temples (Khajuraho) and others have
explicit sculptures extolling the joys of sexual union to educate the masses of devotees
visiting the temple. Vedic scriptures (despite what the 2009 parliamentary committee claims)
put pleasure from sexual orgasm at par with the bliss of experiencing godhood
(brahmanand).
Just like any information empowers a person, sex education gives a person the wisdom to
differentiate the right and wrong. "How can you protect your child against something he does

not know much about? There are several guidelines about how and when what information
parents can provide to their children from the Indian perspective as well. If provided to
children in a proper way, this would only make them more respectful of the other gender and
help them take the right decisions for themselves," said Dr Rao, a world-renowned
psychiatrist and sexologist
THE CURRENT SCENARIO:
The year 2006 witnessed the launch of the much controversial Adolescent Education
Programme (AEP) in association with UNICEF and National AIDS Control Organization
(NACO) which was later scrapped the next year in some states after a report by a Rajya
Sabha Committee Petition.
It has been seen that various schools across different cities in India are organizing workshops
to create awareness among students on issues like health and hygiene. Unfortunately, a
complete sex education drive on a regular basis is still to be introduced in Indian schools. The
current sex education classes are focused on the biological aspects of sex and have separate
classes for boys and girls. They usually begin when children are in the sixth class. Premarital
sex is a taboo topic and children are told horror stories about how it could lead to abortion
which is really bad for the body and abstinence is the only option. There are no counsellors
for children to voice their concerns and usually biology teachers have to double up as sex
educators in government schools. The only other topics that are covered are HIV/AIDS and
unwanted pregnancies.
The biggest advantage of sex education in India is perhaps, it will help the country fight the
rising spread of AIDS. According to statistics released by the Government, it is seen that 31%
of the AIDS cases reported comes under the age group of 15 to 29 which itself shows how
risk prone are young Indians. Despite the availability of such data, schools in India are still
giving a deaf ear to the urge.
DATA ANALYSIS:
Data is collected with the help of structured questionnaire from 200 samples of
students comprising male (69.66%) and female (33.33%) between age group 16-18
(67%), 18-20 (23%) and 20 and above (10%).

 Data is collected with the help of structured questionnaire from 30 samples of parents
comprising male (25%) and female (75%), between age group 30-40 (16.66%), 40-50
(83.33%), 50 and above (nil).
Data is also collected with the help of structured questionnaire from 30 samples of
teachers comprising male (37%) and female (63%), between age group 20-25(nil),
25-30(33.33%), 30-35(37.05%), 35 and above(29.62% )
STUDENTS EXPOSURE TO SEX EDUCATION:
Following diagrams shows the adolescent students exposure to sex education.

Sources of information about sex

A. college; 29%
A. college B. Hospitals
C. Home
F. Internet;
50% D. Peers E. Books and magazines F. Internet
B. Hospitals; 1%
D. Peers; 6%
E. Books and magazines; 14%

Person to clarify doubts on sex related topics

A. Friends/siblings

B. Parents

C. Teachers

D. Social workers

E. Doctors

F. Internet; 29%
A. Friends/siblings; 46%
E. Doctors; 22%
D. Social workers; 1% C. Teachers; 1%

F. Internet

Sex education first oriented in school/college

A. Before primary school; 1%
E. Never; 17%

B. In school; 35%

D. In senior college; 19%

A. Before primary school

B. In school
C. In junior college
D. In senior college

C. In junior college; 28%

E. Never

Person oriented sex education

A. Teacher

A. Teacher; 32%
E. Friends/siblings; 44%
B. Parents
C. Social workers
D. Doctors
B. Parents; 6%
D. Doctors; 13%

E. Friends/siblings

C. Social workers; 5%

Importance of sex education

c. Not important; 3%
B. Up to certain level important; 38%
A. Very important; 59%

A. Very important
B. Up to certain level
important
c. Not important

Knowledge about sexual diseases

A. Complete information
B. Partial information
C. No information at all; 10%
B. Partial information; 64%
A. Complete information; 26%

C. No information at all

PARENTS ATTITUDE TOWARDS SEX EDUCATION:

Following diagrams shows the attitude of parents towards sex education.

Educational qualification of parents

F. Never went school; 8% A. Post graduate; 8%

B. Graduate; 17%
E. Primary; 8%

D. SSC; 42%

C. HSC ; 17%

A. Post graduate
B. Graduate
C. HSC
D. SSC
E. Primary
F. Never went school

100.00%

91.67%

91.67%

90.00%

83.33%

80.00%
66.67%

70.00%

66.67%

60.00%
Yes

50.00%

No
40.00%

33.33%33.33%

30.00%
20.00%
10.00%

16.67%
8.33%

0.00%
A. Imparting sex education in school and college is important.

TEACHERS ATTITUDE TOWARDS SEX EDUCATION:

8.33%

Following diagrams shows the attitude of teachers towards sex education.

Educational qualification of teachers

A. Ph.D.; 4%
A. Ph.D.
B. Post graduate
C. Graduate
B. Post graduate; 96%

Responsibility to teach sex education

E. Friends of child; 3%
D. Social workers; 6%
A. Teachers; 29%
C. Doctors; 12%

A. Teachers
B. Parents
C. Doctors
D. Social workers

B. Parents; 50%

E. Friends of child

Appropriate age for introducing sex education

C. 20-25; 4%
A. 10-15; 26%

A. 10-15
B. 15-20
C. 20-25

B. 15-20; 70%

D. 25 and above

100.00%

92.59%
85.19%

90.00%

85.19%

80.00%
70.00%
60.00%

51.85%
48.15%

50.00%

Yes
No

40.00%
30.00%
14.81%

20.00%
10.00%

14.81%

7.41%

0.00%
A. Imparting sex education in school and college is important.

MAJOR FINDINGS OF STUDY:

50% students said that their major source of information for sex related topic is
internet.
45.83% said that they clarify their doubts on sex related topics from their friends or
siblings.
34.72% said that they received orientation on sex education, at school whereas
27.78% said they received this orientation at junior college level.
43.59% said that their friends and siblings oriented them on sex education, whereas
32.05 % said that they are oriented by their teachers in school or junior college.
58.97% said that it is very important to have sex education in school.
64.10% said that they have partial knowledge about sex related diseases.

 91.67% parents and 92.59 % teachers agreed that imparting sex education in school
and college is important.
83.33% parents and 85.19% teachers agreed that imparting sex education is not
against Indian values and culture.
66.67% parents and 48.15% teachers agreed that they felt awkward and embarrassing
talking about sex related topics to child at home or class.
70.37% teachers said that 15-20 years is appropriate age to introduce sex education to
children.
85.19% teachers did not agree that imparting sex education will lead to early exposure
to sexual relationship.
91.67% parents agreed that they never received sex education in their school or
college.
50 % teachers said that its responsibility of parents to teach sex education to their
children, whereas 29.41% said that its teachers responsibility.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Stop being ashamed of it or dismiss it as unbecoming of our culture. We need a strong

sex education course designed by sexologists, therapists and psychologists that
explains sex to children without being ashamed.

Provide parents with resources on request and through the library ensuring that the
materials illustrate an open process of communication in which adequate information

is provided and up-to-date sexual health information is available with creative ways to
discuss the private and social topics are introduced.
Sex education course would need to Start at an appropriate age. Sex education needs
to begin in the pre-school years. Explain the biological aspects of sex, both to boys
and girls, so that they dont feel like its anything abnormal. Starting talks early can
promote good communication and comfort between parents and their children,
helping to transmit the knowledge, family values and skills needed to make healthy
sexual choices.
Develop promotional activities (community wide campaigns, newsletters, workshops,
etc.) for both professionals and parents to increase awareness.
An active focus should be maintained to covey the risks associated with sexual
activity like HIV, AIDS, STD etc. considering further how these issues can be
promoted effectively in teaching and public health and health promotion strategies.
Currently, there is no place for youngsters to ask sex-related doubts other than
newspaper columns or websites. While anonymously asking questions on website like
this can help, it cant substitute for person-to-person interaction.
CONCLUSION:
A comprehensive sex education can help the present generation live a secured life. An
effective sex education at school along with adequate communication between parents and
children at home can bring about a lot of change.
REFERENCES:
Baldwin SE, Baranoski MV. Family interactions and sex education in the
home.Adolescence, 1990; 25:573-582.
The problem with sex education in India,BBC News magazines,19 July 2014.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Sex-education-can-also-solve-socialproblems/articleshow/44531864.cms
http://foradian.com/sex-education-is-india-ready-for-it/

 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Sex-education-in-schoolsshould-be-banned-Union-health-minister-Harsh-Vardhansays/articleshow/37274947.cms
http://www.thehealthsite.com/sexual-health/sex-education-the-needof-the-hour/Sex Education: The need of the hour? by Nirmalya Dutta
Jan 22, 2013