Education Minister States That Parents Can ‘Opt Out’ Of Comprehensive Sexuality Education

Written by: The Leader of the ACDP, Rev Kenneth Meshoe MP
Article source: ACDP Parliament Media Statement

Acdp statement in response to Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga’s statement that parents can opt out of comprehensive sexuality education curriculum

The statement released by Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga is laced with arrogance and is deceitful, disrespectful and insulting to parents. For the Minister to say that parents have a choice to opt out of the sexuality curriculum by not permitting their children to attend the programmes provided they could produce an alternative curriculum that met the required competences in the curriculum assessment policy statement smacks of arrogance in the extreme. Where would concerned parents find such a curriculum, particularly those in townships?

The ACDP totally rejects the department’s obsession with sexuality education while they do not show the same passion for teaching our children literacy, mathematics, and science. Unlike traditional sex education that was taught in life orientation classes, that the ACDP did not have a problem with because of its age-appropriateness, the department’s comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), which we believe is a watered-down version of UNESCO’s extensive curriculum, is an assault on the sexual health and innocence of children. UNESCO’s CSE promotes promiscuity and high risk behaviour to children as healthy and normal. Why should young children be taught how to obtain sexual pleasure in various ways if government is truly concerned about the spread of AIDS and teenage pregnancies?

By introducing UNESCO-developed CSE, it seems apparent that one of the main objectives of the department with CSE is to change the sexual and gender norms of society – especially one like South Africa, that has strong traditional and religious beliefs. The curriculum seems intent on promoting a liberal agenda in our schools, which includes sexual experimentation and gender fluidity. CSE that is developed and promoted by UNESCO does not promote abstinence but rather, it encourages dangerous and reckless sexual activities, habits and promiscuity.

The ACDP demands that all stakeholders, including concerned parents, religious groups and non-governmental organisations, particularly Christian groups and churches, and the members of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education are properly consulted on the UNESCO-developed CSE content.

The ACDP believes that the department and the Minister are misleading the public when they claim that they have consulted religious organisations. On Tuesday last week, ACDP MPs, led by their President, met with representatives from the South African National Aids Council, the Church Leaders Council of South Africa and Mr Takuwani Rume, of Men Championing Change. They complained that they were not consulted, but rather informed about the department’s plans. We also met the National General Secretary of School Governing Bodies who also stated that there was no consultation with parents or school governing bodies who also reject CSE that UNESCO is trying to impose on all nations through weak governments that do not seem to truly care for their children.

The ACDP calls on the South African government to put the interests of South African children above those of foreign agencies who seem intent on destroying the future of our children. We also call for Comprehensive Sexuality Education developed by UNESCO to be scrapped, and for government to revert back to traditional sexuality education which was previously taught in the Life Orientation curriculum. We must start applying African solutions to African problems.

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Date published: 14/11/2019
Feature image: Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga’s

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