KZN Parents Association welcomes Comprehensive Sex Education

Earlier this year, Department of Basic Education announced plans to introduce CSE lessons under Life Orientation in primary schools. They have been met with a mixed response from parents, teachers and unions. 

The Association says more children are exposed to graphic content on TV and through the Internet. Spokesperson, Vee Gani says while they understand the concerns raised by parents, it's important for children to understand and get correct information. 

"If parents think their children are not having sex then they got their heads buried inside."

"Just ask yourself the question as to why does the department now want to implement this. Obviously, there is a high rate of teenage pregnancies, there is a high rate of bullying and cyber-bullying and assault and all these ill disciplines that are happening in schools. There is also high sexual activity that are happening among our youth and especially our learners and it's happening," he said. 

On Wednesday, the department released the Scripted Lessons Plans (SLP) that will be used in the pilot phase of CSE in selected schools.

The department says the pilot phase will be conducted in areas that have recorded high HIV infection rates and prevalence of sexual abuse.

Pupils in these areas will also learn about gender roles, stereotypes, gender-based violence, sexual orientation, sexuality, culture, diversity and cyber-bullying among others. 

LISTEN: Basic Education spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga has dismissed media reports that Minister Angie Motshekga said parents would be allowed to opt out of the Comprehensive Sex Education education programme for their children. 

"CSE has been part of the curriculum since the year 2000. The only change is that in 2015 the DBE developed Scripted Lesson Plans (SLPs) which are currently being tested in five (5) provinces in order to strengthen the teaching of CSE in schools. SLPs are learner and teacher support materials (LTSMs) that are designed to aid teachers and learners to address these important topics in a systematic manner."

"Research findings indicate high birth rates among adolescents and teenagers; in addition, more than a third of girls and boys (35.4%) experience sexual violence before the age of 17.  This has necessitated the great need for the department to provide age appropriate child abuse prevention education that builds resilience, confidence and assertion amongst young people, who often do not know when they are being violated by sexual predators."

"During teaching and learning time, educators are guided by scripted lessons plans (SLPs) that empower them to discuss topics that could otherwise be found to be uncomfortable. The SLP describes each activity, the materials needed for the activity as well as how to complete the activity, the duration of the activity, the information to be presented, and the points that should be emphasized."

"The department is extremely concerned that there seems to be lower sexual debut and increasing risky sexual behaviour amongst adolescents and HIV prevention knowledge has declined amongst learners. Early sexual debut leads to mental health issues such as depression, vulnerability to violence and poor educational outcomes," the department said. 

Find all the pupil and teacher material here.