TN mulls introducing subject on sexual abuse in schools

As the School Education Department is yet to introduce a new syllabus for Classes 3, 4, 5 and 8, authorities are planning to introduce a subject on sexual abuse for these classes.

“We can prevent child sex abuse and take appropriate action against such crimes only when adequate awareness is generated. Therefore, introduction of subjects on child protection against sexual abuse in the curriculum is being analysed,” a senior official from Tamil Nadu State Council of Educational Research and Training, the nodal agency for creating new curriculum for school students, told DT Next.

“Outside home, the first social unit with which children develop a smooth interaction is the school. So the responsibility of providing protection to children and to teach them to protect themselves from the child sex abuse in the society rests with the school,” he said, pointing out that a child spends most of the morning hours in the school. Therefore, a teacher alone can play the most crucial role in preventing child sex abuse, he added.

Stating that the subject would be designed with suggestions from experts including educationalists, psychologists, teachers and also parents, the official said the topics in the textbooks would be created according to the age group of children. “The topics will differ for Classes 3, 4, 5 and 8,” the official said. He said the subjects would also explain the safe use of internet and social media content on mobile phones.

Referring to a recent survey that was conducted among 2,200 school children in Chennai, the SCERT official said the exercise brought out the shocking truth that 42 per cent of them had been subjected to sexual abuse.

“About 48 per cent of boys and 39 per cent of girls surveyed had been sexually abused irrespective of economic status and social backgrounds,” he said adding, 15 per cent of those who were abused were also tortured.