New sex education curriculum ‘appropriate’ for learners – gvt
Meshoe said it was "inappropriate for children aged 5 to 10 years to be taught that both men and women could satisfy their sexual feelings and experience sexual pleasure through masturbation".
The government has insisted that the new comprehensive sexuality education which formed part of the life orientation was appropriate for learners.
Deputy education minister Reginah Mhaule said there was a need to educate learners on sex and other aspects around it after research found a great need for such education.
“Apartheid patterns of family disruption and parental male absence, as well as cultural barriers and conservative attitudes, were found to be preventing open conversations about sex and sexuality,” she said.
Mhaule said a review of the curriculum had included an evaluation of the life orientation and comprehensive sexuality education learning material, teacher training and curriculum delivery.
Mhaule said the review led to the development of scripted lesson plans such as the development of state owned LO textbooks, an online teacher training course, the development of the “teaching for all” initial education teaching programme and strengthened continuing professional teacher development courses.
READ MORE: Seventy female bikers stand against women abuse in the east
“The 2016 review of international technical guidelines on sexuality education found that the evidence base for CSE had expanded since 2008. This rigorous scientific review found:
· CSE does not sexualise children;
· Sexuality education does not increase sexual activity, sexual risk-taking behaviour or STI/HIV infection rates. On the contrary, CSE delays sexual debut and promotes safe sexual behaviour; Increases knowledge of different aspects of sexuality and the risks of early and unintended pregnancy, HIV and other STIs;
· Decreases the number of sexual partners;
· Reduces sexual risk taking;
· Increases the use of condoms and other forms of contraception.
The department said since 2013, it had been implementing CSE through several co-curricular programmes.
Many parents have had concerns with the CSE as they believe it taught their children about sex in more graphic imagery and promoted high-risk sex behaviours.
READ MORE: NEWSFLASH: Nicholas Ninow guilty of rape, possession of drugs
Parents believed it was not normal for young children to be encouraged to masturbate and explore a diverse sexuality or gender identities.
This also follows hundreds of African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) members and supporters marching through the Pretoria CBD recently against what they called the “sexual grooming of children” in classrooms.
Party president Rev Kenneth Meshoe said: “We find the department’s plans to introduce CSE in our schools in 2020 totally unacceptable.”
Meshoe said it was “inappropriate for children aged 5 to 10 years to be taught that both men and women could satisfy their sexual feelings and experience sexual pleasure through masturbation”.
He said children would be taught that “touching and caressing your breasts is very pleasurable and can be sexually exciting”.
“We want to know why young girls should be taught about fondling their breasts in school?”
“CSE will pollute and poison the minds of our children,” Meshoe said.
Meshoe said children should rather be taught mathematics “before diving into sex”.
Meshoe has planned a larger march in October after the department had failed to respond to the ACDP’s memorandum demands.
Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites:
Rekord East
Rekord North
Rekord Centurion
Rekord Moot
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
