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New Delhi: Building gender-neutral toilets in schools, promoting gender-neutral uniforms and promoting mixed lines of students (girls and boys) are some of the suggestions that were part of the manual put out by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) . To sensitize teachers towards transgender students. It also explained the meaning of words like cisgender, agender and gender fluid to help educate teachers.
However, the manual, which was put up on the official website of the Council in the first week of November, pulled down After the council got the rap from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) last Thursday.
On 2 November, the NCPCR wrote to NCERT stating that it had received complaints against the contents of the teaching manual. The child rights body said it was taking suo motu cognizance of deprivation and violation of child rights.
In the letter, the NCPCR also asked the NCERT to “take appropriate action to rectify the discrepancies in the document” and verify the antecedents of the draft members.
“The text of the manual suggests gender-neutral infrastructure for children that is not commensurate with their gender realities and basic needs. Furthermore, the idea of creating and removing binaries would deprive them of the same rights as children of diverse biological needs. Second, this approach will expose children to unnecessary psychological trauma due to the conflicting environment at home and school,” said NCPCR chairman Priyank Kanungo in a letter to NCERT.
“It is also highlighted in the manual (Chapter 3) that teachers are suggested to discuss puberty barriers with students and its availability for adolescents. In addition, the background and qualifications of the draft committee members was not verified,” the NCPCR letter added.
After the NCPCR wrap, the material is no longer present on the official website of NCERT.
The training material titled “Inclusion of Transgender Children in Schooling: Concerns and Roadmap”, was prepared by the Department of Gender Studies, NCERT.
ThePrint reached out to NCERT Director Sridhar Srivastava via text and email for a response, but did not get revert till the time of publication of this report.
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What did the manual say?
According to the manual accessed by ThePrint, the training material was “designed to sensitize teachers and teacher educators about aspects of gender diversity, with gender-nonconforming and transgender children taking center stage”. .
It added that “the mandate is to integrate these children into the school system and provide them with a suitable learning environment”.
The manual explains various gender terms such as cisgender, which it defines as an adjective for individuals whose gender identity is the same as their gender at birth. It also notes that agender is “being without any gender identity or being gender neutral, i.e. identifying oneself as neither male nor female”, and defines gender fluid as “non-binary gender identity”. which is not fixed and is capable of changing over time”.
Explaining these terms, the manual has a note that states, “It is important to note that the terms used by the healthcare community and the transgender and gender-nonconforming community are constantly changing and progressing.” Gender queer, non-binary and gender-nonforming are some of the terms used to describe someone whose gender identity is based on a binary model of gender such as male/female, male/female, or boy/girl. mismatch. It is advisable to keep track of the terms in practice.”
gender-neutral environment in schools
In addition, the manual gives suggestions to teachers and schools to create gender neutral learning environments.
“Separate rows for boys and girls during assembly, school functions, seating arrangement in classrooms; Separate uniforms according to gender, work groups for assignments, excursions etc should be discontinued,” the manual says. “Mixed groups should be allowed, gender neutral uniforms may be introduced, etc.”
It further states that all teaching and non-teaching staff should be sensitized “on the concerns of transgender students”; how to end their discrimination, segregation and oppression; To prevent transgender sensitive behaviour, etc. and trans-phobic behavior among the school community”.
It also talks about curriculum reforms, saying that any bias, if any, against transgender persons should be eliminated from textbooks and other teaching-learning materials.
The manual also states that there should be regular monitoring of schools “for gender equality with specific indicators on transgender equality”. The manual states that evaluation parameters may include, “safety and safety, physical environment, curriculum and classroom processes, teaching and learning materials, counseling and support services, and parent and community involvement”.
(Edited by Arun Prashant)
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