Midrand | Monday
SEXUALITY education should focus on more than teaching about the anatomical and physical aspects, Education Minister Kader Asmal said on Monday.
It should also address matters like relationships and emotional, gender and health issues, he told the Conference on Sexuality Education in Midrand.
It was essential to prepare children to make their own life choices on sexuality, Asmal said.
”Our children live in a world where they receive many, and conflicting messages, especially on sexuality. Our children shouldn’t have to leave school to learn about life. We must help our young people to make informed decisions.”
Asmal said there was still a perception among some people that it was inappropriate for adults to talk to children about sexuality and that would promote extra-marital sex.
”Clearly this needs to be challenged.”
There were many reasons to address sexuality in education, he said.
This included protecting children against abuse and degradation.
”We must ensure that the children’s best interests are paramount.”
Sexual harassment in schools had become all too common, the minister said. Every year many girls were forced to leave or change schools after being abused.
Although teenage pregnancies had declined, there were still too many.
”For many learners this means the end of formal education,” Asmal said.
MP Dr Albetina Luthuli said tackling the inequality between boys and girls should be at the heart of sexuality education.
”The existing paradigm which puts the responsibility of good morality on the girls alone must change. Boys and girls must be given equal responsibility.”
She said teaching sexuality in high school only was too late.
”At least 15 to 20% of children by then are HIV positive.”
The educational programme must deal with issues like sexual orientation and deceit in relationships in which one partner knowingly infected the other, Luthuli said.
Asmal said the idea of addressing sexual orientation in education did not mean promoting gayness.
”It means that if you exercise a choice the law must treat you equally.”
Other factors making sexuality education essential included the existence of harmful practices like forced marriages and female genital mutilation.
”This is part of the destruction of innocence.”
Among other matters to consider were pornography and the increasing demand for child prostitution.
Children must be given space to share their problems, Asmal said.
Teachers were central to the process of sexuality education, he said.
”I salute these teachers who have overcome the community pressures to help children to overcome their problems.
”We must help to relieve the children’s confusion and create a dialogue between adults and children,” Asmal said. – Sapa