Red Kerala blushes over new sex education syllabus

Student outfits like the All India Democratic Students Organisation AIDSO, Muslim Students Federation MSF and Kerala Students Union KSU have vowed to fight the programmes, though Left unions like the Students Federation of India SFI have stayed aloof.

The syllabus for the AEP, an adjunct of UNICEF8217;s anti-HIV campaign, is being seen by many as too explicit and even openly suggestive, and unfit for Kerala8217;s conservative ethos. The AIDSO has even alleged that the programme is an attempt to promote sex tourism through the back door.

What has rubbed detractors the wrong way are some of the contents spread over several teaching modules. These include teaching students that it8217;s a myth that homosexuality is abnormal and that it is only a matter of sexual preference, besides activity sessions to learn about sexual molestation and its prevention.

Questions like 8220;When did you first have wet dreams? Did that change your approach to girls?8221; discussion themes like 8220;Men can engage in sex with little children8221;, suggestions like the one implying sexual activity that does not involve actual intercourse is safe, have invited protests.

Even the role plays suggested, like teachers and students acting out the father and son dialogue on sexual FAQs, have run into rough weather.

8220;Everyone knows the spread of AIDS has to do with cultural decadence stemming from sexual anarchy. So how can this programme, clearly capable of institutionalising promiscuity, help?8221; asked AIDSO state president, Shajar Khan.