Sex education: Department of Basic Education must play open cards
5 November 2019
The Department of Basic Education's latest statement on its revised comprehensive sex education is an incoherent document that leaves one with more questions than answers.
It endeavours to discredit opposition against the programme as being malicious and unsubstantiated, but it provides no clarity. The statement actually warrants a paragraph-by-paragraph analysis to show how misleading it is.
When the media reported in May 2019 on the proposed revisions of sex education, the Department undertook that any changes will be preceded by proper consultation. However, there has been no consultation. The learning materials were only made available to the Portfolio Committee after a parliamentary question was asked about it.
The statement denies the inclusion of new content and yet another paragraph states that prescribed lesson plans, an online teacher training course and textbooks that belong to the government were developed. "Continuing Professional Development Courses for Teachers" are also being considered.