Uganda will now teach sex education to 3-year-olds

david nganga

October 25, 2017 1:27 PM

Children in pre-school will be taught about “body parts, private parts and unacceptable forms of touching the body."

The Ugandan government is set to introduce sex education to children as young as three years, the Daily Monitor reports.

The content has been grouped into five categories to suit the age differences in the proposed subject.

Mr Aggrey Kibenge, the Education Ministry Undersecretary, says the messages have been developed to promote various skills and values, for the benefit of a child during and after school.

Preschoolers between the ages of three and five will be taught about “body parts, private parts and unacceptable forms of touching the body."

The officials believe that a child at this stage will develop awareness, refusal and communicative skills to be responsible citizens.

Pupils in Primary One to Four, will be taught why some body parts are considered private, puberty, pregnancy, inappropriate touch and when to report it. The students, between the ages of six and nine, will also learn about HIV/Aids and sexually transmitted diseases.

The other groups are upper primary (10 to 12 years old) who will be taught personal hygiene during puberty, virginity and abstinence; secondary school students (13 to 16 years) and tertiary institution students (17 years and above).

“Children are exposed to different forms, frequencies and levels of physical, emotional and sexual violence in their homes and at school,” the report indicates.

Mr Ismail Mulindwa, the commissioner-in-charge of private schools and the framework coordinator, said the National Curriculum Development Centre will use the report to develop the curricula appropriate for the different groups.

Mr Michael Bukenya, the parliamentary health committee chair, said teachers need a guideline to enable them handle handling sex education in schools. He warned that the framework may give them a lot of responsibilities, which some are likely to abuse.

david nganga