Explainer: How Ghanaian kids will be taught Comprehensive Sexuality Education in school
- GES will from next term, introduce sex education into the curriculum of basic schools to equip pupils to know and experience their sexuality
- The Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) is expected to integrate gender, human values and sexual and reproductive health rights perspectives into sexuality education in Ghana
- The GES says the CSE will also empower children to make the right choices when parents, religious leaders fail to play their roles
The week has barely started but already the Comprehensive Sexuality Education in Ghana is making all the headlines.
This comes after the Ministry of Education announced that, beginning next year (2020), pupils in all public schools, will be given Comprehensive Sexuality Education.
The subject content, however, varies depending on the ages of the pupils involved, from toddlers to four-year-olds and above.
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The aim of the programme is to empower kids on sexual issues, in order to keep them from being sexually naïve or vulnerable.
The Education Ministry has, therefore, put out the guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Education in Ghana.
At the forefront of this education is information on sexual rights and reproductive health.
The programme also seeks to nurture positive attitudes and values in kids as they grow up.
These values include open-mindedness, respect for self and others, positive self-worth/esteem, comfort, none judgemental attitudes and a sense of responsibility concerning their sexual and reproductive health.
Government believes this structured curriculum should provide an opportunity for young people to obtain knowledge and skills which are essential in life.
Beginning next year, topics on sexual and reproductive health will be integrated into the various subjects in pre-school, primary, Junior High School (JHS) and Senior High School (SHS).
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For pre-school kids (4 to 5 years), they will be educated on topics regarding personal hygiene.
For primary school pupils (6 to 11 years), they will be taught the values of society and social norms, the concept of gender, responsibilities as a child, understanding interpersonal, family and other relationships, knowing one’s sexual/reproductive organs, seeking healthcare, dating, courtship, marriage life, fertility and developing self-esteem.
At the JHS level (12 to 14 years), they will be taught abstinence, contraceptives, unintended pregnancies and abortion, human, sexual and reproductive health rights, alcohol and drug abuse, communication and negotiation skills, and preventing infections among adolescents.
At the SHS level (15 to 17 years), they are taught gender and bodily autonomy, gender and violence, gender empowerment, gender equality, issues of stigma and discrimination, and HIV and Aids prevention.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
