Need for inclusive classrooms and menstrual literacy among teachers

A recent case involving a school in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu has highlighted the requirement of menstrual hygiene and education among school students. An eighth-grade girl student who had recently gone through her first menstrual cycle was sat on the staircase outside her class and handed her exam. A video of the girl, clearly upset, went viral on social media, and outrage and alarm followed.

The episode also speaks about the insensitivity and indifference of the school administration towards girls who menstruate. The plight of the girl sends a strong message regarding the taboo and stigma of menstrual hygiene in our society. Menstruation, which is a natural biological process, remains a taboo subject, and girls are left to deal with this difficult situation without any assistance or guidance.

Every girl child should be confident and dignified enough to handle menstruation. But the absence of menstrual education and school sanitary facilities discourages them from doing so. The Coimbatore case calls for holistic menstrual education, inclusive classrooms, and facilitation infrastructure.

Schools have a strong influence on developing impressionable minds and creating an empathetic and inclusive spirit. To cultivate a support group for girls, schools may implement the following:

• Menstrual Education: Include thorough menstrual hygiene education in the curriculum, covering menstrual health, hygiene etiquette, and emotional stability.
• Sanitary Facilities: Maintain clean, well-maintained, and accessible sanitary facilities, toilets, and disposal units.
• Empathy and Support: Educate teachers and staff in empathetic and compassionate responses to menstruation issues.

The Coimbatore case is a wake-up call to society to put an end to menstruation stigma. We need to acknowledge the fact that menstrual hygiene is a fundamental human right that ensures girls' education, well-being, and health. Through menstrual awareness and gender-sensitive spaces, we empower girls to hold their menstruation with confidence and dignity.

In the future, the following has to be accomplished:

• Raise Awareness: Raise awareness among students, teachers, and parents about menstrual hygiene and why it is so important.
• Create Supportive Infrastructure: Install disposal units in sanitary facilities in schools.
• Foster Empathy: Create a feeling of concern and care towards girls when they are menstruating.

We can make our society inclusive and embracing for girls so that they can perform at their best together. The Coimbatore incident is an eye-opener that much work has to be done. Let us come together and shatter the taboo of menstruation and see that no girl child is deprived of dignity and confidence in managing her menstruation.