Parrikar favours compulsory sex education in Goa schools

Sex education could soon be compulsory in Goa's schools, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said Thursday.

Speaking to reporters here, Parrikar said he was inclined to accept the suggestions of a legislative committee, which has recommended making sex education mandatory for school students.

"It is needed. I have seen the committee's report," the chief minister said.

The legislative committee under ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Vishnu Wagh was set up a few months ago in the wake of allegations made by a student that her teacher had raped her. A few weeks after the arrested teacher was released on bail, the minor girl committed suicide.

The committee was tasked with making suggestions to the government for curbing such sex crimes.

"Health and sex education should be made mandatory in the school curriculum. The department should also organise talks by resource persons, open forums, workshops, street plays and others to make students, teachers and the public aware about the sex education," the committee has said in its report.

The report has also recommended that a police verification should be carried of both existing teachers as well as before appointing new teachers in order to ascertain the character of the potential recruit.