Teen charter prepared

The first Adolescent Summit 2006, saw the youngsters articulating their concerns over youth issues.

The first Adolescent Summit 2006, in which students from 160 schools participated, concluded on Thursday but not before it saw the youngsters coming into their own: entities in their own right who demanded not just to be seen but also heard.

From issues of mental health of adolescents to new-age parenting and attitudes towards sexuality, the enthusiastic youngsters held forth confidently, articulating their concerns not just verbally but in writing.

The students’ charter of recommendations, which emerged from their symposiums, will be forwarded to the Planning Commission and the NCERT.

“NCERT representatives were quite positive about including the students’ recommendations in their curriculum and policies. We have also formed a Rapid Action Force comprising 45 students from 40 schools who will drive the movement. The next step will be to get students from south-east Asian countries at a common forum with these students and share their experiences,” said Usha Ram chairperson NPSC and principal Laxman Public School.

The two-day summit organised by the National Progressive Schools’ Conference covered a vast range of issues affecting adolescents. “The idea was to include students in the deliberation directly so that their minds, hearts and hands are all involved in this process of learning. It is also an opportunity for us to hear their voices,” said Ram.

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