Study Hall Educational Foundation Unveils India’s First Contextualized
Comprehensive Sexuality Education Curriculum in Lucknow
Tue, 28 Oct 2025
Lucknow, October 27, 2025:
Aligning with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Study Hall Educational Foundation (SHEF) has launched a pioneering curriculum titled “Sex, Relationships, and Society: Comprehensive Sexuality Education Curriculum.” The initiative represents a transformative shift in India’s educational approach — from silence and stigma surrounding sexuality to open dialogue, understanding, and empowerment.
Dr. Urvashi Sahni, Founder & CEO of SHEF, emphasized the broader purpose of the curriculum, saying,Comprehensive Sexuality Education is not limited to biology lessons — it’s about helping children discover who they are, what they believe in, and how they connect with others and society. It encourages critical thinking, challenges harmful stereotypes, and nurtures relationships based on care, respect, and equality. True education must enable every young person to live with dignity and empathy — this curriculum aims to do just that.”
The launch event witnessed participation from several leading educational institutions, including Study Hall School, La Martinière, Seth M.R. Jaipuria School, City Montessori School (CMS), APS Academy, GD Goenka, Kunskapsskolan, Study Hall Deva Road, and Adani Gems School. Their collective presence reflected a growing consensus that comprehensive, age-appropriate sexuality education is vital for the holistic growth of today’s youth.
Shreevats Shukla, a Class 12 student at Study Hall School, shared, “We need to talk about the issues that shape our daily lives. Open discussions on gender, relationships, and consent help us unlearn biases and redefine respect and kindness. Men and fathers should also be part of these conversations because real change happens when everyone questions and reshapes the meaning of masculinity together.”
Developed under the leadership of Zarine Garcia, the curriculum is a result of years of research, feedback from students, and pilot programs across SHEF’s institutions — including Prerna Girls, Prerna Boys, and Study Hall. It adopts a holistic, rights-based approach that combines knowledge with emotional and social learning.
A parent attending the event remarked When adults avoid these topics, the internet becomes the teacher. It’s our duty to ensure that children receive information that is accurate, respectful, and empowering.”
Structured across seven key modules, the curriculum addresses themes such as:
Self-awareness and identity
Healthy relationships and consent
Gender, culture, and equality
Puberty and reproduction
Sexual and reproductive health
Digital safety and inclusion
Understanding LGBTQ+ identities and positive perspectives on desire and pleasure
Vanshika Mishra, a student from Seth M.R. Jaipuria School, noted,
Young people, especially girls, need accurate information — not silence or shame. When we understand our bodies, rights, and choices, we gain confidence and the courage to stand against discrimination. This education is about equality, empowerment, and freedom.”
Each curriculum package is supported by teacher training and continuous mentoring, including a one-day workshop, follow-up sessions, and a year-long guidance program to ensure safe, effective, and sensitive classroom implementation.
Through this initiative, SHEF aims to create a generation of informed, empathetic, and self-aware individuals — ready to lead a more inclusive and respectful society.