Let’s Talk About Sex
DR TLALENG MOFOKENG answers your intimate questions
I am an educator at high school level. What should pupils be learning at school regarding sex education?
Sexuality education is meant to be providing learners with content about a variety of topics related to sexuality, health and rights.
Some of the topics that should be covered to ensure comprehensive learning should include: human development including gender, sexual orientation, sexual health, relationships, gender roles, cyber erotic intelligence.
Affirmation needed
Education programmes for young people must include, in an affirming manner, LGBTQA+ content, link to health services and provide a network of community-based resources or practitioners.
Access to sexual health services must be free of stigma and discrimination.
In conversations around sexual assault prevention, an emphasis should be placed on young women specifically to say “No”. However, the details and rights around consent is usually not covered with the necessary depth to include those obtaining consent, consent for other activities beyond penetration.
Educators may want to use resources such as videos to assist them not only to fill the content gaps in their own manuals but to also illustrate what consent looks like and aid them personally in the areas they may need to develop in order to provide quality learning.
Values and beliefs
The structured learning within the school-based curricula should explore values and beliefs about those topics and learners should have evidence-based content that will assist them to acquire the skills that are needed to have the confidence to navigate relationships. They need to feel empowered and have the information to manage and make decisions about their own sexual health.
Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng (MBChB), sexual and reproductive health practice, Disa Clinic, safersex.co.za