A coalition of 53 Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, has strongly condemned the directive by the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, to Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, NERDC, to remove sex education from the basic education curriculum.
The CSOs expressed great disappointment over Adamu’s move and described it as un-welcomed development.
Recall that during the ministerial session of the 66th National Council on Education held on November 3rd 2022, in Abuja, the minister had made a declaration to expunge sex education from school curriculum.
“We have received with great disappointment the news of the directive by the Honourable Minister for Education, Hon Adamu Adamu to the NERDC to remove sex education from the Nigerian educational curriculum.
“This development is very unwelcome and erodes 20 years of progress made by the ministry of education and other state and non-state actors to provide wholesome education that meets the needs of learners at different levels.
“It appears the minister has not been provided appropriate information and advisory by relevant officials about Nigeria’s Family Life and HIV Education (FLHE) curriculum, the journey towards having this curriculum, and the impact for adolescents, and young people,” the CSOs said.
They noted that FLHE curriculum was approved by the same National Council on Education in 2002 because of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the constant rising incidents among adolescents and young people.
“It became imperative to adopt strategies that will centre this vulnerable group at the heart of prevention and response, one of such strategies was the adaptation into the school curriculum.
“In its own definition, the FLHE curriculum ‘is a planned process of education that fosters the acquisition of factual information, formation of positive attitudes, beliefs and values as well as development of skills to cope with the biological, psychological, sociocultural and spiritual aspects of human living,’ the group said.
According to them, the curriculum aims to provide information and skills that are necessary for young people to make rational decisions about their bodies, as well as information that can affect and change their behaviours positively as well as prevent the spread of HIV.
Further speaking in defence of the curriculum, the group noted that there are six themes which are Human development, Personal skills, Sexual health, Relationships, Sexual behaviour and Society& culture.
It argued that the information is delivered in an age-appropriate and culturally sensitive manner.
“Anyone who has interacted with this curriculum would know that it is set to provide the support and guidance adolescents, and young people need to navigate through the changing phases of their lives that are so critical, and mostly experienced while they go through the basic and senior secondary education and would also know that this curriculum is not against any religious or cultural groups or teachings in this country.
“It is pertinent to mention that Parents, Teachers, Traditional & Religious leaders, policy makers and implementers across all states of the Federation were actively involved in the drafting of the content of the FLHE.
“As with a curriculum that has been implemented for 20 years, huge resources have been invested in making this implementation effective both by government, donors, and civil society. From the research, numerous consultations, and workshops to effectively incorporate it in school subjects working with the NERDC, to training of teachers to be equipped to effectively deliver lessons and adapting various programs to support the efforts of the government to provide education that is meeting the needs of a learner in the 21st century.
“The implementation addresses and supports learners to navigate experiences that come with their social, physical, and mental development. It provides the skills to foster positive relationships with parents, peers, and their communities and promotes healthy behaviour,” the CSOs said.
They further stated that “recent stories that have gained public attention in the media involving adolescents and sexual behaviours including sexual violence in secondary schools one of such that has led to death of an adolescent in the FCT, have also pointed to the importance of providing accurate information for adolescents, and this cannot be left to the amount of time that learners of school age spend outside the academic environment, and not just for parents who clearly need the help of teachers in this regard.”
The CSOs called on the minister to withdraw his directive as FLHE is also preparing the students to be better parents if they chose to be, adding that evidence shows that parents who received such education are more likely to discuss these issues with their kids.
“It is also pertinent to mention the fact that Nigeria remains a secular state even if individuals are very religious, and for policy makers, decisions made should be based on addressing the needs of the people and informed by existing evidence from research and best practice on the issue.
“After 20 years, the progress that has been made by government and its partners on the FLHE cannot be effaced by this declaration.
“We the civil society groups reject this sudden regression. We as Nigerian parents, educators, learners, and advocates are expecting conversations on how we will improve the quality of the delivery of the FLHE program as well as its long-term sustainability not a roll back of policy gains.
“We urge the 36 commissioners of education to properly inform the minister of the implications of such declaration and to fully support the FLHE implementation with allocation of adequate resources to reach millions of Nigerian learners with lifesaving information and skills to reach their full potentials,” the group said.
The CSOs statement was endorsed by African Girls Empowerment Network, African Network of Adolescents and Young Persons, Alliances for Africa, Amaclare Connect and Development Initiative, ACDI, and Association for Reproductive and Family Health, ARHF, and 48 other CSOs.