The National Population Council says that the purpose for the introduction of sexuality education in Ghana’s basic school curriculum is to inculcate in pupils relevant values that will prepare them for a better future.
The Executive Director of the Council, Dr. Leticia Adelaide Appiah on the Citi Breakfast Show said the new curriculum will not indoctrinate Ghanaian children on their sexuality as claimed by some persons.
The planned integration of the Comprehensive Sexuality Education in the basic school curriculum has generated mixed reactions from the public with some suggesting that the course is a backdoor attempt to introduce children to LGBT issues.
Others have suggested that the material is not must be limited to pupils in Junior High Schools.
Although some others have explained the need for such education especially at the basic level, the subject has remained controversial.
Dr. Leticia Adelaide Appiah argued that, the subject content would be age-appropriate, adding that the course is meant to give pupils a full understanding of themselves and necessary values for their lives.
“When we talk the way we are talking, I get worried because it gives me the impression that for our children, the values we are putting in them are not fair enough because it is the values that will let you determine good and bad,” she said.
Dr. Leticia Adelaide Appiah added that, “the foundation of our Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) is to make our children civil so that they can know what is good and what is not good, what is fair and what is not fair. Sometimes, hiding things from people is not the best. The best is to give them the foundation, let them known what abounds and then they will make the decision.”
Meanwhile, the Ghana Education Service says it is “surprised at the wild speculations and claims” about the curriculum.
In a statement on the development, it said the curriculum “has nothing to do with LGBT issues, masturbation or explicit display/labeling of intimate body parts.”
The GES added that “it will not under any circumstance implement and programme which goes contrarily to the legal, cultural norms, values and beliefs of the Ghanaian people.”