Students exposed to adolescence programme more aware

Updated on: Friday, November 25, 2011

Students exposed to Adolescence Education Programme in the country have higher levels of awareness and knowledge on a variety of issues like physical changes and HIV/AIDS compared to others, according to a new study conducted by the UN.

The study Concurrent Evaluation of Adolescence Education conducted by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) also suggested that the AEP has contributed in developing life skills of the students exposed to it.

A total of 21,967 students from various government and private schools in five states of Punjab, Orissa, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh participated in the concurrent evaluation programme, while 1,000 teachers and 200 school principals also took part.

Around 2,300 students, who were not exposed to the programme, also participated in the concurrent evaluation.

"A higher proportion of AEP students, as compared to non-AEP, had knowledge about physical changes that take place during adolescence, especially with regard to menstruation and others," the study, which was released today, said.

A considerable knowledge gap exists between students' and teachers' knowledge, the study said.

The programme, the study says, has also contributed towards improving students' attitudes on several fronts, including taboos associated with physical changes and issues related to sexual harassment and discrimination towards HIV-positive persons and their children.

"The findings endorse that AEP has contributed towards enhancing knowledge of both students and teachers in a number of areas addressed in the programme, for example, physical changes during adolescence, nutrition and anemia, HIV/AIDS and substance abuse," it said.

Overall, the study said 57 per cent students stated that wife-beating is not justified under any circumstances.

"The proportion of boys who believe wife beating is not justified under any circumstances is extremely low at 48 per cent for AEP and 53 per cent for non-AEP which is much less as compared to 68 per cent of girls in AEP and 73 in non-AEP," the study said.

On HIV/AIDS, the study said knowledge levels of students from AEP schools were significantly higher than non-AEP schools.

"Approximately 31 per cent students from AEP schools and 20 per cent from non-AEP schools had comprehensive knowledge. Teachers showed much better knowledge of modes of HIV transmission with comprehensive knowledge displayed by 73 per cent in AEP schools," the study said.

It also said a high proportion of students responded in favour of introducing AEP to students below the age of 14 years. More girls than boys favoured lower age of initiation of AEP, the study said.

Students exposed to adolescence programme more aware

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