‘All Equally Misinformed': Parent's online petition to retain NCERT's gender-neutral training manual

NEW DELHI: A parent of a queer child has written to the Sridhar Srivastava, joint director of NCERT to bring back the training manual on inclusion of transgender children in schools. Over 7,000 have already signed the online petition filed by the parent to retain the NCERT’s gender-neutral teacher training manual.

“Sensitising NCERT teachers to the fact that some children could be non-binary only suggests love and compassion for children who seem or are different in some respects,” the parent, Nilakshi Roy, said in the petition

“It also reflects your respect for the scientifically proven approach towards sex and gender education: that it is necessary and has to be imparted in a practical manner without morality or shame attached to it,” the online petition added.

She further said that “If the children and schoolteachers continue to not see these people for who they are, or to allow disrespect, support bullying, lack of privacy, all because they are ALL EQUALLY MISINFORMED about them, they are actually holding the Supreme Court in contempt”.

Why NCERT junked gender-neutral teacher training manual?

Last week, the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) published a new training manual titled "Inclusion of Transgender Children in School Education: Concerns and Roadmap" aiming to educate and sensitise teachers towards the LGBTQ+ community and different gender orientations.

However, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) sought rectification of "anomalies" in the document claiming that NCERT's manual suggests gender-neutral infrastructure for children that does not commensurate with their gender realities and basic needs.

Following this, the NCERT removed the training manual from its official website.

The training manual highlights practices and strategies including the provision of gender-neutral toilets and uniforms, sensitisation on non-teaching staff, discontinuing practices that segregate children into various school activities based on their gender, inviting members of transgender community to speak on campus, among others.

Meanwhile, Kerala education minister V Sivankutty wrote on Twitter, "Ideas of gender justice, equality and awareness will be emphasised during curriculum reform. But these lessons need not be restricted to textbooks. Admirable move by Valayanchirangara LP School. Students of all genders will now wear the same uniform here - short pants & shirts."

Ideas of gender justice, equality and awareness will be emphasised during curriculum reform. But these lessons need not be restricted to textbooks. Admirable move by Valayanchirangara LP School. Students of all genders will now wear the same uniform here - short pants & shirts. pic.twitter.com/0GRggq8ZOi

— V. Sivankutty (@VSivankuttyCPIM) November 11, 2021

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