The Students Islamic Organisation has condemned the sex education programme introduced by Union Human Resource Development Ministry in CBSE schools and threatened to launch a mass agitation if the Maharashtra government did not withdraw it.

"Sex education to be given in the name of Adolescence Education Programme from standard VI to XII under the guise of AIDS awareness and prevention would certainly promote free and safe sex. Thus, it would have adverse impact on individuals and society as a whole," SIO president Engineer Feroz Patel alleged.

"Instead of emphasising on moral education in the country, the sex education programme has been introduced under the influence of UNICEF and western condom/contraceptives manufacturing MNCs, who view this country as a potential market," he said.

The sex education syllabus, prepared by UNICEF and other UN entities, has been designed keeping in mind the needs and conditions of Western society that is completely inappropriate in Indian scenario, he claimed.

This would increase female dropout rate especially in the rural areas as the parents may not allow their girls to have the course in schools, he alleged.