In fact, school principal Bharat Thakker denied that they had planned ``any such seminar''. He also denied that he had issued a statement to the press that they were going to start sex education. His signatures on the statement, which described the programme as the first of its kind, had been forged, Thakker alleged.

However, former school trustee Hasmukh Shah, who had played a key role in planning the seminar, said it had been called off on the insistence of politicians, but refused to name them. Thakker denied any political interference, but said he had been receiving calls from parents for cancellation of the programme.

Sexologist Paras Shah, consultant for the aborted seminar, was stoical. ``If they want to cancel the session now, so be it'', he said. Paras Shah said he had been preparing for the seminar for about a month and ``slides for the lecture on Friday were ready''. According to Shah, ``Some political leaders had expressed their opposition to the programme.''

But cancellation may not be the end of it. Principal Thakkar threatened legal action against those who had forged his signatures on the statement which, he said, was released without his consent. ``We will take action after consulting the school trustees and officers in the Education Department'', he said.

And he pointed the finger at Paras Shah. ``He approached the school for organising the programme. We asked him to make a presentation to the male science teachers on Friday, after which a decision was to be taken. But he misused it to gain publicity'', Thakkar alleged.

But Paras Shah maintained that the press release was signed by Thakker and released only after his approval. ``Initially, we had planned a press conference, but settled for a press note'', he said, and claimed that the school authorities had told him that about 200 students were expected to participate in Friday's programme.

As for Thakker's threat of legal action, Paras Shah said, ``If the signatures have been forged, let them prove it. I am willing to face whatever action they take against me''.

Notwithstanding the controversy, many teachers of Ankur School hold that sex education is necessary for senior students. Said biology teacher C D Patel, ``Students are shy to approach us or their parents. The guidance of an expert would be useful''. Neeta Shahji, another teacher, observed, ``It is important that students receive correct information. If not, they are likely to be misguided and face problems.''

Thakkar agreed, ``It is definitely necessary, but we should have some limits. Media hype about such programmes might lead to serious repurcussions.'' Thakker also said that, as principal, he had to ``carry everybody along''.

However, some educationists hold a contrary view. Secretary of the Ahmedabad School Management Asociation Bhaskar Patel said there was no need for sex education at school level. ``Students of the science stream are exposed to this in their syllabus. What is required is general understanding and orientation to sexual issues which can be provided by senior teachers'', he said.

Raja Pathak, another educationist, spoke of the ``need to generate an environment where sexual issues can be discussed freely''. He felt that sex education in schools would be detrimental to the education system and society on the whole.