Parents say ‘no thank you’ to sex education
A group of concerned parents held a protest against the Western Cape Education Department (WCED)’s proposed implementing of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) and the new structured lesson plans last week.
The group, Leave Our Kids Alone, gathered at Unity Park in York Street on Thursday 13 February to voice their resistance against the proposed content being taught to their young Grade 4 children. Georgian Lisa Swanepoel who had organised the gathering, said they wanted the WCED to know where they stand.
She based her speech on a quote of Rita Pierson, as used by the #LeaveOurKidsAlone founder, Lauren Evanthia: “Every child deserves a champion - an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can possible be.” Swanepoel said they want to be the champions in their children’s lives, the ones who teach them about their bodies, Aids and appropriate feelings about sex.They want the department to understand that they as parents want the right to decide when it would be appropriate for their child to learn the intimate facts of sex. She said according to the CSE website, CSE is supposed to help learners build an understanding of concepts, content, values and attitudes around sexuality and sexual behaviour, as well as leading safe and healthy lives.
The parents, however, want their young children to still play and learn through play. “Let us not allow the inclusion of Comprehensive Sex Education to cloud their innocent minds and rob them from time and the ability to play. If CSE remains to continue in schools, this will consume their play eventually, and their lives and then also our lives,” she said.
They fear CSE in schools will, contrary to the intended outcomes, lead children to experiment, robbing them of their innocent youth. The group said school should be a fun place to learn and not a place where the dangers of sex will make it uncomfortable.
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The Department of Basic Education reiterated that no new content has been added to the Life Orientation subject in schools.
The Comprehensive Sexuality Education has been part of the curriculum since 2000. The department rejected the notion that Comprehensive Sexuality Education sexualises children. It said the lessons focus on teaching about respect for self and for the bodies of others; and most importantly, for children to identify inappropriate physical interactions. The purpose of CSE is to address sexual abuse, HIV infections, learner pregnancy, bullying and peer pressure, and to help learners stay in school until they complete Grade 12.
“It is unfortunate and bordering on mischievous that certain organisations persist to misinform the public with outdated lesson plans (used during the pilot phase) that have been shared across public platforms with the view to not only misinform but discredit the department’s comprehensive plan,” said Elijah Mhlanga, spokesperson for the Department of Basic Education. The department said in November last year that they will conduct a pilot in 1 500 schools in five provinces, and that it would be testing nothing more than the use of scripted lesson plans.