Local authorities are asked to re-examine school syllabus and text books to ensure gender awareness following December's gang rape and murder
By Nita Bhalla
NEW DELHI (TrustLaw) – India's education ministry has asked local authorities across the country to review the school syllabus and text books to make them more gender positive and to introduce self-defence classes for school girls, the Mail Today reported on Monday.
The move comes after the December gang rape and murder of a young woman in New Delhi, which sparked public protests and national debate on the treatment of women in the largely patriarchal country.
"It is suggested that the curriculum and text books be re-examined and improved for gender-positive materials," the newspaper said, quoting a letter sent out to state authorities by Rajarshi Bhattacharya, secretary in charge of school education in the human development ministry.
The National Crime Records Bureau reported 24,206 rapes in 2011 – the equivalent of one rape every 20 minutes.
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