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The Department of Basic Education (DBE) is currently in the process of overhauling the Grade 4 Life Skills Curriculum. While the SAOU welcomes any improvement to the curriculum, the Union emphasises that any amendments must be made in a rational, objective and well thought through manner.

The DBE indicated that some of the amendments to the Life Skills Curriculum would include topics with specific sexual content e.g. ‘masturbation’ and ‘gender nonconformity’. The DBE further states that the content is aligned with CAPS and the South African Children’s Act 83 of 2005.

SAOU also urgently raises the following concerns regarding these amendments to the Grade 4 Life Skills Curriculum. Firstly, none of the stakeholders in the education sector were approached by the DBE to give their inputs into the announced amendments. The SAOU’s members – the people who have to implement this changed curriculum with its highly sensitive content in the classroom- are very knowledgeable and experienced in teaching the subject to nine- and ten-year-old learners. The input of these educators could have added significant value to the improvement of the curriculum but unfortunately they are a valuable resource that was not utilised.

Secondly, because no stakeholders in the education sector were invited to give inputs, the SAOU is particularly concerned about the task team that is currently making these amendments to the curriculum. The SAOU emphasises that the DBE must use informed advisors when such crucial amendments are made to the curriculum.
Thirdly, any amendment to the curriculum must surely be age- and peer-appropriate.

Fourthly, the content must be on such a level that it will assist a nine- and ten-year-old child to make a more informed decision.
Finally, the content in the curriculum must take cognizance of and respect the different mores held by various communities especially in regard to issues like sex education. A one size fits all approach will definitely not suffice.

If the DBE does not involve the SAOU, parent bodies and other stake holders, it will find that communities will undermine and boycott any implementation process as the absolutely required ownership will not be taken. The DBE must realise the matter under discussion is extremely sensitive and volatile and the current unilateral approach will not dispel serious and real concerns. In fact, it will only harden attitudes.

The SAOU is currently conducting a survey to determine the mood and acceptance of our members in connection with this matter. The approach is objective and rational and will attempt to objectively gauge the stance of our members. Once the survey has been completed, it will be used as a yardstick to determine the SAOU’s final mandate to support or reject the envisaged changes.

Issued by The SAOU