Jharkhand’s Khunti to introduce sex education in govt schools

The Khunti, Jharkhand district administration has decided to introduce sex education in government schools to raise awareness among students about the risks of unsafe sex, amid growing concerns over teenage pregnancies involving minor girls.

Officials said the initiative is part of a long-term educational effort to address sensitive issues through structured guidance.

Khunti District Education Officer (DEO) Aparupa Chowdhary said that all government schools have been instructed to include these discussions during the School Health and Wellness Programme (SHWP), held every Tuesday.

She further directed that SHWP classes on the first and third Tuesdays of each month should focus on helping students evaluate the behavior of people, including neighbors, identify intentions, and distinguish between right and wrong actions.

A teacher, designated as an ‘Arogya Doot,’ will lead the awareness campaign after studying the issues thoroughly.

In addition, career counselling will be provided for students from classes VI to XII, highlighting the adverse effects of early motherhood and fatherhood on health, education, and career.

"If required, the issues would be discussed with the help of videos and photos," she said.

The program is set to begin on the first Tuesday after schools reopen following the summer vacation on June 5.

Chowdhary has also directed that the topic be taken up during parent-teacher meetings (PTMs) over the next three months.

These meetings are held on the 25th of every month. Village elders, school management committee presidents, and other influential community members will be invited to participate.

"There have been few reports and cases in recent times related to early maternity among minors, which is a concern. We plan to educate the students, parents, and society through SHWP and PTM. We hope that participants at PTM would use their influence to stop such practices in society. The education department would take feedback from every school in this regard through a Google link and take further action," Chowdhary added.

Social activists have expressed support for the initiative, pointing to early alcohol use among youth and traditional practices as contributing factors.

Former Zila Parishad President Jenica Gudia cited alcohol addiction as a reason for such incidents.

Another expert referred to the ‘Dhuku’ tradition, where a tribal girl may live with a man before marriage, as one of the underlying causes.