SCERT keen on Adolescence Edn prog

• Training sessions for teachers
• Imparted only for students of classes IX and X
• Will be taught for 16 periods
• Societal participation is also necessary: Experts

Bh Ramakrishna

The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has now focused on adolescence education for students with a view to enlighten the girls and boys on some of the basic pubertal as well as hormonal changes taking place in their body. It prepared a broad and an in-depth programme in association with Aids Control Society of AP. An understanding session has already been underway at a school in Ramanthapur in the city where all the principals of DIET schools, DEOs and Deputy Educational Officers have been participating.

A training programme is expected to start in a few weeks for teachers under the aegis of SCERT. Most of the teachers who will be biology teachers- will be picked up from schools located in the district headquarters and trained in various aspects of the subject in a very serious and focused way. The district teachers will in turn train the mandal and village level school teachers who will teach the students finally.

Only students of classes 9 and 10 will be given understanding on these aspects and a total of 16 school hour sessions (periods) are allotted for this. Explaining the changes that are made in for adolescence education programme, Dr Gopal Reddy, Director of SCERT said “the present school curriculum already incorporates a number of elements relating to adolescent world. So, the general framework of adolescence education should focus on those aspects of adolescent reproductive and sexual health (ARSH), which are not incorporated in the existing school curriculum:

“In all three key components have been identified viz Process of growing up, HIV, Drug Abuse as some of the issues that have to be addressed. A fourth aspect- Life skills through co-curricular activities- was incorporated as part of the programme” he told The Hans India.

The training programme encompasses all these components. The first and very vital component of growth aspect covers contents on the process of growth and development of children into adulthood such as physical growth and development including development of secondary sexual characteristics, socio-cultural development including relationships of adolescents with parents, peer group and the opposite sex and gender roles, Major sexually transmitted diseases are also included in this component. In the second one, i.e. HIV or AIDS, how the disease is caused and consequences as well as preventive measures will be taught. Same is the case with the third aspect, i.e. Drug abuse in which how adolescents fall prey to drugs, consequences of drug abuse, treatment and rehabilitation of addicts. “If we don’t teach the wards on the changes that take place in their body, it will lead to some other societal problems. They will try to learn through cheap literature and wrong means which will affect their character building” Gopala Reddy said.

Experts have been suggesting that society should also play a key role in this area. “Not just in school but parents, neighbours, learned people should try to guide students as and when necessary . The impact of television, internet is immense on the young minds. Parents should ensure that their children should not browse obscene material available on net and not going to movies with more blue content. Creating a healthy environment is the responsibility of the government and society. Only then, strong character building of students is possible” Dr Krishna Prasad, a counselor on such issues felt.

“Students need guidance and in this context that the need for an educational intervention is strongly felt. This need is particularly felt in India, because the school curriculum here does not include the crucial elements of reproductive health. There are contents on the biological aspects of the reproduction system, but education in these elements cannot be complete by giving simply the biological information. There is a need to focus on physiological, emotional and socio-cultural dimensions in a holistic manner” a broad outliner of SCERT mentioned.