The department of basic education has assured teachers they do not have to use its life skills “scripted lesson plans” that include the graphic demonstration of how to put on a condom before sex.
The assurance was issued after strong objections by parents, teachers, governing body associations and religious organisations to the “comprehensive sexuality education” (CSE) teacher guides and learner workbooks during consultative meetings in January last year.
Governing body associations said this week that although Granville Whittle, a deputy director-general in the department, told them at the time that the lesson plans would be optional, not mandatory, this was only confirmed in writing last month.
In the letter to the National Consultative Forum, comprising governing body associations, Whittle said use of the scripted lesson plans was not compulsory and teachers retained the prerogative to develop their own plans, “provided these meet all the curriculum requirements”.
He said the lesson plans, already being piloted at 1,500 schools in five provinces, were developed as “a resource tool” to strengthen the quality of sexuality education.
But some parents, teachers and governing body associations say the pupil workbooks and teacher guides are too graphic.
The educator guide for grade 9s, for example, includes a step-by-step demonstration, expected to be done by the teacher, on how males should put on a condom.
If penile models are not available, “you and your learners can use bananas, carrots, cucumbers or even just keeping the forefinger and middle finger close together on one hand”, the guide reads.
Paul Colditz, CEO of the Federation of Governing Bodies of South African Schools, said that in initial meetings the department said teachers were obliged to use the lesson plans. “Our stance was that you cannot have scripted lesson plans and tell teachers you may only teach this.”
Matakanye Matakanya, general secretary of the National Association of School Governing Bodies, which represents about 9,000 governing bodies, said teachers felt “uncomfortable” teaching CSE in the way the department wanted.
Anthea Cereseto, CEO of the Governing Body Foundation, said many felt the scripted lesson plans were “too explicit and went too far”.
“The lesson plans should be available to all teachers for use at their discretion. They should exercise their professional judgment and do what is best for their children in the classroom.”
Ebrahim Ansur, secretary of the Association of Muslim Schools, said the group opposed prescription by the state “in matters which could be in conflict with the value system and ethos of Muslim schools”.
“Sexuality education … is best undertaken by educators who have a specialised knowledge of the Islamic approach to this sensitive topic.”
The Catholic Institute of Education’s Anne Baker said: “It is important for Catholic schools to situate sexuality education in religious education rather than life orientation, thus emphasising the sanctity of the human person and the gift of sexuality.”
On its website, the department of basic education says CSE is not the same as sex education and does not teach pupils how to have sex.
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