The Kerala High Court directed the state government to update the school curriculum with sex education to raise awareness on sexual assault against children. The court issued the direction after considering various pleas related to the matter.
The court cited ’Erin’s Law’ that is in place in some states of the USA and directed the schools to use the same for preparing the programme. The order regarding this has been issued by Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas.
The court had earlier taken suo motu cognisance and directed Kerala Legal Service Authority, state government, State Department of General Education and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to inculcate awareness about POCSO Act and allied provisions among school students in Kerala.
The new directions are an extension of this. The major directions are:
- Both government and CBSE should issue orders for the inclusion of a prevention-oriented programme on sexual abuse.
- Both government and CBSE should constitute an expert committee within two months’ time for formulating the programme in an age-appropriate manner.
- The expert committees should submit recommendations to be imparted within six months of its constitution.
