Sex education ban comes under fire

Terming as "regressive" the decision to ban CBSE textbooks on Adolescence Education Programme (AEP) in Maharashtra, experts have criticised the state government for not consulting the stakeholders on the issue.

"It is unfortunate that the state government has taken the decision without consulting the stakeholders and it should be immediately retracted," educationists, counsellors and social workers said at a public symposium organised by an NGO `Men Against Violence and Abuse (MAVA)' here yesterday.

"The subject has to be discussed by all and not MLAs alone. It affects the common man and the public should be part of the decision," Harish Sadani of MAVA said criticising the state government's decision.

MAVA launched a campaign against the ban and recommended introduction of sex education for class nine students on a pilot basis from the next academic year.

Speaking at the meeting, former principal of a local school and member of Stree Mukti Sangathana, Arvind Vaidya said, "The decision has taken us back by 50 years."

Vaidya has been imparting sex education as part of its 'Jignaysa' Project since 1975.

Senior counsellor Hemangri Naik from Navi Mumbai criticised the decision saying the programme imparts some useful life skills including on how to come out of peer pressure.