Kochi: The SCERT has informed the Kerala High Court that awareness of the POCSO Act will be included in the syllabus starting from the academic year 2024-25. 

To start off with, ‘POCSO awareness’ will be part of the syllabus of Classes 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 9 in the academic year 2024-25. Next to this, an awareness program will be introduced in Classes 2, 4, 7, and 10 in the following academic year, 2025-26.

It should be noted that the high court issued an order last year instructing schools to include awareness programs in syllabi in order to thwart sexual atrocities. A single bench of the Kerala HC had issued the order while considering the bail petition of the accused who was responsible for impregnating a 15-year-old minor girl. 

Now, SCERT has informed the court about the latest developments. The court will review the situation on September 18.