Is teaching learners about sex wrong?

Comment on social media has been divided over a published article indicating that the Department of Basic Education will from next year teach learners from Grade Four about masturbation as part of the life orientation curriculum.

Many have argued that these learners are not mentally ready to be exposed to such “extreme” lessons on sex and that this might lead to them experimenting with the deed, so we will be sitting with more problems before long.

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Those on the opposite side of the boxing ring of words argue that the lessons might come in handy for those young learners who are frustrated by the changes in their bodies and are scared to speak to their parents about it.

During all this debate, the department spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga, refuted the claims in the article, saying only Grade Seven learners will be taught about the transformation of the human body.

He insisted that learners will not learn about masturbation but rather about sexuality and that masturbation can be used as an example of what will happen in their bodies.

“It is not like you will learn about masturbation. It’s not like that, but a comprehensive sexuality education.

“The new life orientation textbook for Grade Four currently being written does not cover masturbation.

“The Grade Four learners will learn in a most age-appropriate and sensitive way how babies are made.

“The lesson set will also cover healthy lifestyle choices with food and other substances, the importance of respecting each other and oneself, and understanding what a personal boundary is as well as understanding the concept of privacy,” he explained in a statement released by the department.

While weighing and interrogating the facts on both sides of the argument, I wondered whether teaching learners about sexuality, consent and, of course, masturbation is a bad idea.

I asked myself this because in recent years we have seen learners from primary schools being charged or implicated in rape cases within the school grounds.

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Are we as parents so naive that we don’t realise that our children as young as seven are already experimenting with sex and are exposed to pornography on the internet and other media platforms?

And again, if as parents we are failing to openly discuss the topic with our children, would it be a bad idea for teachers to step in and responsibly teach them about the act and its consequences?

I really don’t know where I stand on this one. I understand the arguments on both sides of the debate, but for now I will stay right in the middle while I try to make sense of all this.