Parents of a Grade 6 student at Parow Valley Primary School have expressed concerns over a booklet containing sexual education material. The booklet, part of the school’s life skills curriculum, was found by the parents while organising their daughter’s textbooks for the new school year.
As per the Weekend Argus, the father of the 11-year-old girl criticised the descriptions and illustrations of puberty changes in the male and female bodies.
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Terms like ‘ejaculation’ and ‘wet dreams’ were explained in a manner he deemed excessive.
‘This is a discussion a parent should have with their children. It’s a sensitive topic and should be done in a safe, comfortable environment. Having discussions like this at school can easily open the doors to curiosity, and nowadays we have our children on phones, which they will obviously use to search for information,’ he said.
Dr Andre Powan, a student spiritual support and counselling mentor, said that the content brought mixed reactions among parents, with many finding the content age-inappropriate. However, he doesn’t consider the terms used problematic.
‘These words and their meanings, like ejaculation, are scientifically accepted words for the actions of the anatomy of the human body,’ he said.
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Elijah Mhlanga, a spokesperson for the Department of Basic Education, defended the curriculum, stating that such information is often unaddressed at home.
‘We understand that these matters are not easy for parents to handle. These books are used nationwide, and we have never encountered any challenges. The intention is to empower young people with information and not offend anybody,’ he said.
Kavya Swaminathan from the TEARS Foundation highlighted the importance of age-appropriate sex education. She emphasised normalising bodily changes and the use of correct anatomical terms to prevent a sense of shame in children.
‘The truth of the matter is that children in Grade 6 are in the stage of life when they will be going through puberty, a natural bodily change that everyone experiences,’ she explained.
She added, ‘By trying to sugarcoat these terms, we are indirectly teaching our children that there is something shameful happening to them.’
Swaminathan also stressed the role of comprehensive sexual education in understanding gender identity and maintaining safe relationships.
‘Learning more about this also facilitates understanding how to create and maintain safe relationships, as well as how to communicate and make decisions regarding sex in a healthy and safe manner,’ she said.
Educational psychologist Genevieve da Silva advised parents to engage actively in their children’s education and discussions on sexuality. She suggested open, values-based conversations, collaboration with educators and community involvement in parenting.
‘Create open conversations with your children early (age appropriately) about difficult topics. Help them process these things through values-based discussions as well as critical thinking and skill development,’ she said.
She added, ‘Parenting is best done in the community; who else is helping you raise your children (teachers, community leaders, religious leaders)? Engage with them—equip yourself or your partner to engage in difficult conversations and equip yourself with the tools to be able to navigate complex spaces (like sexuality).’
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