RB, under its flagship Dettol ‘Banega Swasth India’ in partnership with Primus Partners launched a unique life skills program for kids, “Birds and Bees Talk” (BBT). The curriculum was launched for children between the ages of 10-19 in Sikkim in the presence of Chief Minister Shri Prem Sing Tamang, Education Minister Shri Kunga Nima Lepcha, Health Minister Dr Mani Kumar Sharma, Education Secretary Shri Anil Raj Rai, Social Justice & Welfare Secretary Shri Tshewang Gyachho, Addl. Chief Secretary Shri GP Upadhyaya and Health PS Shri Kareti Sreenivasulu. A letter of Intent (LoI) was also signed on the occasion. This comprehensive growing life skill curriculum will help to make children informed with the help of accurate, fact-based and age-appropriate information on growing up and life skills amongst adolescent kids.
Commenting on the partnership initiative, Mr Ravi Bhatnagar, Director, External Affairs and Partnerships, Reckitt Benckiser Health AMESA said, “Education is the catalyst to social change and one of the most critical areas of empowerment for children. India needs to focus on comprehensive education which includes life skills as an important part of the holistic curriculum. Currently, it is not a part of the usual school curriculum and most schools, teachers and parents are not qualified to provide the required information to children. With the focus towards betterment of children, we are proud & honoured to embark this partnership with the Government of Sikkim to launch BBT, a comprehensive life skill program for adolescent children. Through this curriculum, we aim at creating awareness around the importance of life skills so that every adolescent grows up in a protected environment.”
The Birds and Bees Talk program will be executed and implemented across Sikkim in government and recognized private schools. Sikkim is an ideal state to kick-start this program in the North East as the education policy in the state is reformative. Interestingly, the curriculum is in alignment with the National Curriculum Framework and the recently announced New Education Policy 2020. Under this curriculum, teachers from the enrolled schools will be appointed & equipped with full program essentials including teaching methods & lessons. The training of these teachers will begin shortly to help them better train kids. The unique design of the program comprises of 27-hour lessons allowing the schools to teach in a staggered format, spread over the year.