Kerala Government embracing Gender Neutrality

Following a two-month summer break, the Kerala government surprises parents and kids with new instructional materials that feature images that convey gender-neutral ideas. The government has set out to update and reform school textbooks to instill the idea of a gender-neutral society in the minds of children.

The new class 3 textbook was uploaded on social media by state general education minister V. Sivankutty. As it went viral, netizens praised the initiative and said that the new textbook depiction would aid in the eradication of the stereotype. The state government is attempting to gradually convert all schools to co-ed schools to phase out boys-only and girls-only institutions.

A student at a government school in Vithura named Pavithra Krishna said that she was surprised to see these unusual depictions in her new Class 3 Malayalam textbook. "As I turned the pages of the new book, I was surprised to see images of a father in the kitchen scraping coconuts." She added, "I showed my father this and asked him why he doesn't do this at home."

The inclusion of the gender equality concept in textbooks was warmly welcomed by teachers and students, who praised it as a "positive" development.

Sindhu, the teacher of a state-run school, said that it would send a positive message to children of all genders. "This is really encouraging. Whether deliberate or not, there is a widespread belief in our culture that women should only do housekeeping and cooking. Because they witness it in their homes, children are also developing this sense of feeling," she said.

She further added, "It is important because it shows children that both parents can handle household chores like cooking. The significance is in the portrayal of reimagined gender roles."

This is not the first time this government has done anything that has received attention. Last year, the state introduced supplementary textbooks for higher secondary students with chapters like Mahatma Gandhi's assassination and the removal of Mughal kingdom chapters.

Another such action was the state's announcement early this year of a gender-sensitive curriculum for lower and middle schools, emphasizing the values of justice and equality. The curriculum includes instruction on democratic values, secularism, scientific thinking, and POCSO regulations.

Also Read: Education News, Latest Education News
Also Read: Top Universities in India, Top MBA Colleges in India, & Top Engineering Colleges in India