The fate of sex education for Sri Lankan students pursuing secondary education is now hang on the balance following a Buddhist priest’s protest against the previous regime’s attempt to introduce the subject from Grade seven onward.
The Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe said officials are ready to re-examine the controversial sex education book for Grade 7 students "Hathe Ape Potha" if there is any problem in the content.
The book is a joint project of the Health Promotion Bureau of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education.
A group of Buddhist monks led by Prof Ven Medagoda Abayatissa Thera calling a press conference condemned the book claiming that its contents are promoting "vulgarity" and corrupting minds of children.
A special meeting will be convened on January 21st to arrive at a final decision over the publication of the Hathe Ape Potha. Minister of Education Dullas Allahaperuma and Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi will attend the meeting.
This decision was taken after a joint meeting of the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education and Human Resources Development, and the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Women and Gender.
Many of the experts who spoke at the meeting pointed out that adolescent children should be given sex education presenting data on a number of studies conducted by the Ministry of Health and Universities.
The Government Information Department said a proposal was made to publish and distribute among school students the Hathe Ape Potha and added that a final decision will be reached on the 21st of this month.
The members of the Maha Sangha who criticised this book have been invited to attend the meeting as well.
(LI)