Through games and sports, adolescent teenagers are being given sex and reproductive knowledge. Sources at the secondary and higher secondary education board say that a new project called ‘Generation break through’ has been taken for this purpose.
Project Director (planning and development) Dr Mohammad Jahangir Hossain, observes: “The project started in 2014 and it will cover 350 academic institutions including 50 madrasas. Though the project ended last December, the academic institutions are carrying out their work through own initiatives.”
In the second phase of the project, 207,052 students of 250 institutions of five districts will be added.
In 2021 and 2022, all education institutes of Chattogram and Sylhet will have this project. The programme will also be in operation in half of all academic institutions in the other six districts by 2023 and 2024.
Technical officer of Concern Women for Development, Yasmin Akhter, observes: “Through a game called ‘hard break’ teenagers are given lessons about reproduction and sexual health. The students are between class 6 and 10.”
Students of class nine say: “There’s nothing shameful about this education; after learning, we are also teaching others. We are sharing the knowledge that period is nothing to be ashamed of; plus, there is also the learning of ‘good touch’ and ‘bad touch.”
Assistant teacher of Ideal School and College, Moni Deepa Roy Chowdhury, said: “Initially, parents were hesitant and had reservations but that has changed, they are eager for their wards to get the best progressive education.”
Another teacher, Md Ziaur Rahman, who guides children, says: “In addition to gender and reproduction knowledge, many of the social misconceptions are also being debunked like cooking is only the task of women. Division of work at the family and an equal social status without prejudice are being taught.”