By Andrew Walyaula
The push by civil rights groups to introduce comprehensive sex education in schools has been dismissed by Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) who termed the move as a violation of children’s rights.
Jacqueline Onyango, the Senior Deputy Director in charge of Curriculum and Research Services said the children in primary and secondary school are minors thus information on matters such as contraceptives would not be appropriate content as they lack the ability to make informed decisions on sexual content.
“These are children between ages 10 and 17. In line with the Kenyan constitution, such information is not appropriate,” Onyango said during a sensitization forum of journalists on the new curriculum.
Her sentiments came after civil rights groups started advocating for topics on prevention of STIs and HIV, unintended pregnancy and contraception to be introduced in school.
“Sex education is actually incorporated in our education system. For example, in early primary, we teach children about the parts of the body. Reproductive health is taught in upper primary and the lessons get more complex as the children get to higher levels of education,” she added.
Kenya Parents Association chairman Nicholas Maiyo said the country lacks a proper framework to guide the required parental consent for students to receive sex education.
He added that cultural beliefs also affect the issue of sex education.
“It is a taboo to speak about sex in most of our cultures and this has not been made easy by the lack of sensitization from the government,” Maiyo said.
A report by a study commissioned by President Uhuru Kenyatta revealed over 16,000 teenagers got pregnant or were married during the Covid-19 lockdown.
