Starting next academic year, Comprehensive Sexuality Education or CSE will be a part of the New Normal Curriculum. It will be taught in schools across the country and students will be assessed. Facilitation training for priority schools was held in Bumthang to implement it. CSE is a sex education subject to equip students with knowledge, attitude and skills to make appropriate choices in their lives.
Sexuality education has been a part of the school curricula since 2008 in the form of Life Skills Education. But reports of youth-related issues such as teenage pregnancy; suicide and sexual harassment have been prevalent in the country. Bhutan reported at least 240 cases of teenage pregnancy last year alone.
Meanwhile, the 2017 Population and Housing Census shows that nearly half of Bhutan’s population is below the age of 24. Studies also suggest that not many adolescents in the country are aware of Comprehensive Sexuality Education.
Karma Wangchuk, the Chief Programme Officer of the School Health and Nutrition Division from the Education Ministry said, “Considering the importance of reports we have been getting from the media houses and schools, our children are not aware of CSE even as they graduate from their formal education.”
“When they don’t understand all these, they cannot take care of their bodies and make decisions on their own. So we thought that it’s very important for them to at least get themselves equipped as they become adults,” he added.
The National Strategic Framework on CSE was launched last week in Thimphu. CSE concepts are integrated into existing subjects taught in schools from classes PP to twelve. They will be implemented as curriculum-based formal classroom lessons and also as informal programme-based activities.
The United Nations Population Fund and RENEW are partnering with the Education Ministry to implement it in schools and communities.
“We see the launch of National Strategic Framework on Comprehensive Sexuality Education as a milestone achieved for the nation and especially for the youth. UN in Bhutan will continue partnering with the Royal Government of Bhutan and Civil Society Organizations in implementing the National Strategic Framework on Comprehensive Sexuality Education in schools and communities,” said Jigme Choden from the UNFPA.
Teachers and education officers from three pilot schools in Bumthang, Zhemgang and Trongsa attended the training. Counsellors from 20 priority schools from 16 districts also underwent similar training.
“We might face time constraints and other challenges but as it’s already integrated into the curriculum, we will not have to allocate a separate period for it. Moreover, we can also apply it through activities such as observation of international days. We can also sensitize the parents during parent-teacher meetings,” said Namgay Tshering, Principal of Tang Central School in Bumthang.
A teacher from Khomshar Primary School in Zhemgang, Tshering Dema said, “If we implement CSE vigorously in schools, I think Bhutanese children will become more open to the society, to the parents and teachers. Through that, at least suicide problems, teenage pregnancy, abortions, rape cases and all will minimize because they will seek help.”
“If we tackle these problems at the grassroots level, we will be able to bring down the rate of such social issues. I cannot say that they won’t prevail in the society at all but somehow we will be able to prevent them from happening,” said Kinley Lhaden, Teacher of Khomshar Primary School.
Organizers also plan to present the implementation strategy to teachers attending the upcoming mass orientation on New Normal Curriculum this winter break.
Kipchu, Bumthang
Edited by Tandin Phuntsho
