With the increasing emphasis on gender sensitivity and issues of violence against women, both the CBSE and the State board are taking steps to sensitise their students and staff.
The CBSE has issued a kit to schools, which includes a handbook, cards and a manual to help schools train their staff and students on skills and attitudes to promote gender sensitivity. “The kit is meant to improve the children’s understanding of gender. If we catch them at a young age, they will be able to cope with life better,” a CBSE official said, adding that the kit is in compliance with the Protection of Children from Sexual Offence Act 2012. The kit will be incorporated through the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation scheme, with 23 modules on life skills that include growing up issues, managing emotions, and all forms of discrimination. There is also an educator’s manual on gender sensitive teaching in classes from Class I to Class XII.
Schools have also been instructed to set up a School Complaints Committee and also advertise the 1098 Childline prominently in schools. “We have also instructed schools to conduct an induction for all their staff,” he said. Schools will begin implementation in the next academic year.
ADVERTISEMENT
The State Council for Education Research and Training has also developed a manual to train teachers for counselling. “It has instructions for teachers to identify children at risk. It also encourages teachers to encourage gender equality in the classroom,” an SCERT official said.
The CBSE has issued a kit to schools to help them train staff and students