Integrating Transgender Concerns in Schooling Processes

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• What is the Background in which the New Draft came?
• What are the Key Highlights of the New Draft?
• What are the Concerns Related to the New Draft?

 Why in News?

• Recently, the draft manual titled “Integrating Transgender Concerns in Schooling Processes” has been released.
• The document aims to initiate a dialogue among the participants and bring to fore their experiences with transgenders and understanding of transgender concerns.
• It is prepared by a new committee convened by the National Council of Educational Research and Training’s (NCERT) Department of Gender Studies head (Jyotsna Tiwari).

What is the Background in which the New Draft came? 

• It came two years after NCERT removed a document (“Inclusion of Transgender Children in School Education: Concerns and Roadmap”) on inclusion of transgender children in schools.
• Following an objection by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) to suggestions on gender-neutral toilets and puberty blockers, the old document has been removed.
• The NCERT has released a fresh manual, which avoids the usage of not just those terms but also references to caste system and patriarchy that were highlighted in the previous one.

What are the Key Highlights of the New Draft?

• Diverse gender expressions have a long history of acceptance in India: It was documented in various art forms and multiple texts of ancient period, including epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata.
  • However, it avoids any discussion of the role of the caste system or patriarchy in maintaining stigmas.
• Recognise people with diverse sexualities: It includes LGBTQIA+ communities and the present module is specifically focusing upon transgender persons by birth.
• Recommends the introduction of gender-neutral uniforms: From Grade VI onward, the schools can introduce gender neutral uniforms which are comfortable, climate appropriate, fit and do not conform to a particular gender.
• Toilets exclusively for transgender students: In case there is a toilet for Children with Special Needs (CWSN) that can also be shared by transgender students.

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What are the Concerns Related to the New Draft?

• The two manuals (old and new), prepared by two different committees, are starkly different in nature despite dealing with the same subject. 
• Does not deal with all categories of gender non-conforming children: Thus, no information for teachers on dealing with children who may not be transgender but show signs of “Gender Dysphoria”.
  • Gender Dysphoria indicates psychological distress resulting from a conflict between a person’s assigned gender at birth and the gender with which they identify or the “agender” category (neither man nor woman).

Q1) How Indian schools can be made transgender friendly?

The draft manual titled “Integrating Transgender Concerns in Schooling Processes” highlighted steps like recognise people with diverse sexualities, introduction of gender-neutral uniforms, exclusive toilets to make schools transgender friendly in India. Textbooks should provide all students with a critical lens to investigate a variety of issues such as diverse sexual identities and marginalization.

Q2) What is Gender Dysphoria?

Gender Dysphoria indicates psychological distress resulting from a conflict between a person’s assigned gender at birth and the gender with which they identify or the “agender” category (neither man nor woman).

Source: New NCERT manual on transgender students silent on caste, patriarchy | ET

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