UNI
Bangalore, Apr 30: Despite pressure from the Centre, the Karnataka Government has decided not to introduce sex education in elementary and secondary schools, Higher Education Minister D H Shankaramurthy said here today.
Addressing a press conference, he said this decision had been taken after the issue was discussed with Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.
''The contents of the sex-education book, issued by Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry, had some portions which were vulgar.
These pages can not be opened in front of anybody,'' he said.
Indian tradition had given enough importance to sex in social life and also set its own parameters. Though, the Centre's concerns were understandable, it better leave the matter to state governments as they were vested with the discretionary powers to choose school curriculum, he said.
The Minister said state government decided to open 104 Government First Grade Colleges in 66 taluk centres, where government colleges did not exist. In these places, private colleges were found collecting higher fee from the students.
''A sum of Rs one crore has been allocated for each college to develop infrastructure and Rs 15 lakh each had already been released. All colleges will start functioning from coming academic year. We are considering opening another 20 colleges in the coming days.
''Donors are welcome to contribute minimum four acre of land to set up the colleges'', Minister added.