There is no proposal to include sex education in the curriculum of the Central Board of Secondary Education, Rajya Sabha was informed on Monday.

In a written reply, Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh said the government had, however, launched an Adolescence Education Programme for secondary and higher secondary classes.

The AEP is collaboration between the HRD ministry and the National AIDS Control Organisation, he said, adding that its objective is to empower the adolescent population to make informed choices and develop life skills for addressing psychological, social and health concerns.

The AEP is aimed at making learners aware of major concerns like HIV/AIDS and drug (substance) abuse, he said.

On minority education, the minister said that a national sample study to track students' attendance at primary and upper primary levels in 20 major states and Delhi had been commissioned by the government.

He said reports from nine states received so far show that attendance rate of Muslim children at primary and upper primary levels of schools are close to the overall attendance rate of all students.