Parents want teenagers to handle sexual issues with maturity; introduce sex education from Std VIII

Sex has always been a taboo subject in the Indian family. Over the years, most parents were embarrassed to broach the subject with their children.

However, a new survey reveals the great Indian family has changed.

The national survey, conducted by the International Institute of Population Sciences, reveals 80 per cent parents across the country want their children to be given sex education in school.

Dr S K Singh, associate lecturer in the International Institute for Population Sciences, said, "The study is based on providing information about HIV/AIDS and sexual behaviour in general.

We found that a higher percentage of fathers want their girls to be given sex education and information on HIV/AIDS."

Knowledge is Power: Psychologists say children are less likely to take wrong decisions if they have complete information about sex.

The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) also throws light on the fact that it is the government that is the main deterrent in including sex education in the syllabi, and not the parents, as believed earlier.

Out of 29 states, eight states including Maharashtra, continue to exclude sex education from schools.

"It's not the parents, but the states that refuse to include this subject on moral grounds," added Singh.




The NFHS has also covered various aspects of sex education and sexual behaviour, especially pertaining to parents' attitude towards sex and providing sex education to their children.

Around four out of five parents agree that their children should be educated about sex and provided information on HIV/AIDS, and the means and ways to protect themselves.

Dinesh Tarfe, who has two daughters, said, "Of course, sex education should be given to girls, so that they don't fall prey to sexual offenders. It should ideally be introduced in Std VIII."

The survey was conducted among 1.24 lakh mothers and 80,000 fathers, and 80% parents voted for 13-15 years as the ideal age for imparting sex education.

81%
Men think information on HIV/AIDS should be given to u00a0girls in school

13-15
The ideal age for imparting sex education to children

$7 bn
The amount the USA spends on teenage pregnancies annually

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Kamla Nehru was 17 years old when she gave birth to her daughter Indira

Actress Dimple Kapadia was u00a0also 17 when her daughter
Twinkle was born

Fathers know best

Across India, 46% women and 62% men think girls should be taught sex education. And 63% women and 81% men think information on HIV/AIDS should be given to girls.

In Maharashtra, 46% women and 67% men favour sex education for girls in school, and 76% women and 87% men want information on HIV/AIDS to be taught to girls.