Alappuzha: Gender sensitisation in schools, colleges soon

Alappuzha: The State Women’s Commission will launch a gender sensitisation programme, ‘Kalalayajyothi,’ in schools and colleges from the next academic year to make the students understand the importance of healthy relationships.

According to J. Prameela Devi, member, women’s commission, most of the cases being dealt with by the commission are about the failures of relationships  in family or classrooms. “The initiative was taken up to make the students aware of gender sensitivity to help them build up a strong base for the future,” she said.

A similar programme had been introduced in CBSE schools in 2013. The CBSE had developed a  ‘kit on gender sensitivity’ for teachers to ensure unbiased participation of both boys and girls in the learning process. The ‘kit’ which includes a handbook, cards on gender sensitisation and a manual for the educators will  be provided in the next academic year.

“The new initiative will make ensure that students are given constructive and meaningful feedback by the teachers. It will be an instrument  in  recognising the behavioural as well as academic accomplishments  of children. The principals under our cluster have already got  the ‘value and gender sensitivity kits,’ ” said  Ms Indu Dutt, vice-president, Alappuzha Sahodaya, associated with 42 schools.

The national curriculum framework of 2005 had also prioritised gender as a guiding principle in all curricular areas. Ms Vijayasree, vice-principal, Maria Montessori Central School, Ambalappuzha, has lauded  the gender sensitisation programme put forward by the CBSE. “Our teachers will be given at least six-month training to implement the ‘kit ’ and we have already started preparing the groundwork,” she said.