Efforts Being Made To Start Age-Appropriate Sexual Awareness Classes: Kerala Govt To HC

The Kerala Government informed the High Court that preliminary efforts have been taken to start age-appropriate sexual awareness classes beginning from the next academic session.

They informed the court during their online appearance that the Committee held on February 23, 2023, and that preliminary steps had already been taken.

The Director of General Education further informed the court that additional steps are being taken to incorporate age-appropriate sexual awareness curriculum into the curriculum as much as possible.

The statements were made in a case that was essentially a bail plea, but the high court used its jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution to urge the State Government and CBSE to raise awareness among young people about the repercussions of sexual offences and their ramifications.

On December 9, 2022, the high court directed the State Government to form a committee to carry out the court’s directives for developing a school-based prevention programme for sexual abuse.

The committee, chaired by the Director General of Education, was constituted, and on February 22, 2023, its two reports, dated 17.02.2023 and 21.02.2023, referring to various actions suggested by the expert committee for programme execution, were delivered before the court.

Nevertheless, the lawyer appearing on behalf of the Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KELSA) informed the high court that the reports were deceptive because the Committee so appointed had not even met once by then.

Taking note of this, the court imposed severe sanctions on the authorities, ordering the Director General of Education and the Assistant Director of Education to appear in court on February 27.

The Committee met on February 23, 2023, and preliminary actions were taken, according to information provided to the court on February 27.

Given the nature of the reasons provided and the actions already made to incorporate sexual awareness lessons in schools beginning with the next academic year, the high court expressed its pleasure.

However, the court emphasised that while the Government-formed Committee intends to convene once every two weeks, the court will continue to monitor the process in accordance with Article 226.

As a result, the case was rescheduled for two weeks later on March 15, 2023.