Over the past few weeks parents and teachers have been expressing their disapproval in response to the alleged CSE lesson plan updates leaked by the ACDP and shared by FOR SA last month.
Read the full story here: Leaked 2020 life orientation curriculum has educators up in arms over "grossly insensitive" sex education material.
Thousands of people have taken to social media to express their concerns, and one Facebook group, founded by Lauren Evanthia, has gathered nearly 100 000 concerned parents in just two weeks.
The group, called #LeaveOurKidsAlone, offers more than a place for people to express their disapproval of the new CSE lesson plans: the group is calling for a total ban on all forms of sex education in schools.
CSE must fall
Evanthia, who is also founder and party leader of the Organic Humanity Movement, explains that she started the group as a means to reveal "what the government is trying to hide by implementing CSE", adding that this group is different because they are standing against all forms of sex-ed in school.
In a quick chat with Parent24 she told us "I have four young kids and coming from a small town we only had one lesson on sexual education and never again."
She said "It is terrifying to see what the government want our children to learn. We do not trust the government and we will bring the country to a standstill if we have to."
See more details on the Comprehensive Sexuality Education lesson plans here.
#LeaveOurKidsAlone is calling on government to halt their planned 2020 rollout of updated scripted lesson plans aimed at supporting teachers in their CSE classes, to instead focus on the following issues:
- Improve the justice system
- Improve school infrastructure
- Improve the recruitment, training and accountability of teachers and principles
- Deploy more social workers in communities and schools
- Fix SAPS
- Address poverty and stop the destruction of the economy
- Improve spatial planning
- Create adequate drainage, and waste water infrastructure
- Drive down the cost of fuel and fix up the train system so it's more affordable for people to get to work and to jobs
Also read: 'CSE does not sexualise children': DBE addresses specific concerns raised on new CSE lessons
A personal matter
Members of the group believe sex education is a personal matter between parents and children, and that government and schools should not get involved.
One parent explained their concerns, saying that "80% of students can not read, but the government wants to teach the children about sex instead," and that is why she is so upset.
Another suggested the school curriculum must rather focus on making things like " swimming lessons, knitting, cooking, first aid and getting your drivers license, compulsory".
Members are calling on parents to wear white every Friday to show their disapproval towards sex education in schools.
Compiled for Parent24 by Anneline Hlangani
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Read more:
'CSE does not sexualise children': DBE addresses specific concerns raised on new CSE lessons
Want to opt out of sex ed classes? Private or home school are your only options, it seems