Separate classes for boys and girls on sex education?

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Separate classes for boys and girls on sex education?

30 Jul 2008, 0307 hrs IST, Kounteya Sinha,TNN

NEW DELHI: Co-educational schools may soon have an all-girls and an

all-boys class once a week.

This special 30-minute session will discuss sexually transmitted

infections and HIV and forms part of the recommendations made by

India's first official sex education manual, which is now open for

public scrutiny.

While male teachers will teach the boys, girls will be enlightened by

lady teachers about how HIV is spread, what are the precautions one

can take, is abstinence a good option to save yourself from the virus

and what are the symptoms of a sexual transmitted infection.

Teachers have been asked to initiate a brainstorming session with

students asking them to name some of the latest diseases affecting

people. When HIV/AIDS is mentioned, only then will the teacher start

discussing the HIV epidemic in India.

The origin of the virus will be discussed, its prevalence in the

world and in India, why women and children are most vulnerable to

getting infected and what is its mode of transmission.

Kids may giggle their way through the class but they better pay

attention because the manual has asked teachers to quiz students at

the end of the class to ensure the messages don't go waste.

The manual, which is open for public feedback till August, is

expected to be finalized by October.

On Tuesday, India's National AIDS Control Organisation presented the

prototype of the Adolescent Education Manual to education secretaries

and AIDS control societies from 20 states.

Naco says to combat HIV, prevention is the best cure. The manual, it

says, will educate youngsters — six of whom are infected with HIV

every minute worldwide — about essential life skills and accurate

information about HIV and STIs.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Separate_classes_for_boys_and

_girls_on_sex_education/rssarticleshow/3303813.cms