Menstrual Cycle and Hygiene Syllabus in Bihar Schools' from July

After the Bihar based school open in July after the summer vacations, there will be weekly classes on the menstrual cycle, menstrual hygiene, ways to use sanitary napkins, reproductive health etc. The classes on periods will be conducted in every school in Bihar on Saturdays from upcoming July. The authorities expect this will work to increase awareness among the students on the topic and shatter many taboos and misconceptions. In the senior secondary levels, the topic will only be conducted to girl students. However, the department of education in Bihar also plans to make boys also aware of the periodical cycle, puberty-related issues and increase awareness on the reproductory systems.

The project will be running jointly be Sarva Siksha Abhiyan and Bihar State Project Education Council. Kiran Kumari, who is the state programme officer of quality pedagogy said that the project is a mere convergence of the government schemes like the Mukhyamantri Kishori Yojna which are already running. Under the scheme, the state gives 300 rupees per year to the students from class 6 and 12 to maintain their menstrual hygiene. It also provides anaemia tablets to the girl students who are slightly older. She explained that there was uncertainty regarding the usage of the money. The state was not sure if the students are buying sanitary napkins with the given money or not. There are also female students who still hold back from talking about the topic openly and thus, they fall behind the menstrual hygiene etiquette. The newly introduced scheme is expected to give them a platform to openly talk on the issue without any hesitation.

Master trainers are training one female teacher from every school from the state to conduct awareness on the issue under the scheme. The Government of Bihar plans to bring 6000 schools to teach on the topic. From each district of Bihar, four teachers are chosen as the master trainers who will be conducting training programmes for other teachers across the state. Kumari confirmed that the process is complete in April and now, every school has at least one trained staff.

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She expressed her concerns that girls sometimes feel scared on the time of their menstrual cycle and do not even talk about the respective matter with their parents. There are many myths regarding this which exists in society till today. Some still practice wearing cloth and even sawdust in schools which is highly uncomfortable. Some students become dropouts or absentee in their periods. She added that under the initiative, female students will also be taught to make their own sanitary napkins.

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