LET'S TALK ABOUT IT NOW: WHY MOTHER GHANA MUST REINTRODUCE SEX EDUCATION IN JUNIOR HIGH AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS

 

LET'S TALK ABOUT IT NOW: WHY MOTHER GHANA MUST REINTRODUCE SEX EDUCATION IN JUNIOR HIGH AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS 

By: Honeybrowne Okaakyire, B.Ed.

Introduction: A Nation in Denial, A Generation at Risk

It pains me deeply when I walk through the streets of Ghanaian towns and see young girls,  some barely teenagers; carrying babies on their backs. I, Honeybrowne, cannot help but ask: where did we go wrong as a nation? Why do our young people fall victim to preventable sexual mishaps like teenage pregnancy, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), rape, and sexual exploitation? The answer lies not in their innocence but in our silence.

For far too long, sex education in Ghana has been treated like a taboo, a subject to be avoided, whispered about, or brushed off with vague metaphors and warnings. But the time has come; no, the time is long overdue for us to look in the mirror and say boldly: “Let’s talk about sex, responsibly as parents, educationists, teachers, headmasters, house masters, stakeholders, counselors, DCEs, MPs, chiefs and elders, farmers, nurses and doctors, drivers, masons, nannies, among others”.

This is not a Western idea or a foreign imposition. It is a fundamental human necessity. And I am here, as a trained university graduate teacher, a Ghanaian, and a concerned citizen, to argue that sex education must be reintroduced boldly and effectively at both the Junior High School (JHS) and Senior High School (SHS) levels. Our survival, our dignity, and our future depend on it.

What Is Sex Education? 

Let me start from the root. Sex education is the instruction about human sexual anatomy, reproductive health, sexual intercourse, sexual rights and responsibilities, relationships, contraception, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and more. It provides young people with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values to make informed decisions about their sexual and social relationships. 

In simpler terms, sex education teaches us how our bodies work, how to relate respectfully with others, how to protect ourselves, and how to appreciate our sexuality in a healthy and responsible way.

Why Is Sex Education Necessary? I quiz. Curious to know? Now, let's go!

Sex education is not about encouraging promiscuity. That’s a popular myth here in Ghana and a dangerous one. In fact, sex education helps delay sexual initiation, reduces risky behavior, and equips learners with the tools to protect themselves.

Let me break it down:

1. Preventing Teenage Pregnancies : In 2021 alone, more than 13,000 teenage pregnancies were recorded in Ghana between January and June,  many of them in Junior High and SHS levels. Some of these girls dropped out of school and were left to fend for themselves in a hostile world. If they had been taught about reproductive health, contraception, and the consequences of unprotected sex, many of these pregnancies could have been avoided.

2. Reducing STIs and HIV/AIDS : Sexually Transmitted Infections, including HIV/AIDS, are still a serious concern among the youth. Without accurate knowledge, many young people fall prey to myths like “you can’t get HIV the first time” or “if you wash after sex, you’re safe.” Comprehensive sex education would debunk such lies and offer real protection. Awww herh, poor people with gargantuan misconceptions. 

3. Preventing Sexual Abuse and Exploitation : A girl once told me she didn’t even know she was being abused by her uncle, because no one ever taught her what abuse looks like. Many children suffer in silence, blaming themselves, because we don’t empower them with the knowledge of boundaries, consent, and safety. Sex education would teach students : both boys and girls, about consent, how to recognize sexual harassment, and how to report and seek help when they feel unsafe.

4. Empowering Gender Equality : Sex education helps boys and girls understand and respect each other’s bodies and emotions. It reduces sexist attitudes and promotes empathy, mutual respect, and healthy relationships. This is vital in building a society free from gender-based violence.

Ghana’s Backward Slide: How We Removed What We Needed Most

A few years ago, there was a serious uproar in Ghana when the government attempted to introduce Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE). Due to public misunderstanding and poor communication, many believed it was an attempt to promote homosexuality or moral decay. The backlash was so fierce that the policy was withdrawn.

But here’s the truth: we didn’t reject sex education but we rejected ignorance disguised as information. What Ghana needs is a culturally sensitive, age-appropriate, well-structured sex education program and  not Western ideologies and borrowed sexuality education principles, hey no! 

We threw out the baby with the bathwater. And now, our youth are paying the price.

A Real-Life Scenario: Let’s Get Practical

Let me paint a picture for you.

Scenario 1:

Ama, a 15-year-old JHS 2 student in the Ashanti Region, gets into a relationship with a 22-year-old university student. He promises her an iPhone and some money. Out of curiosity and pressure, Ama gives in and gets pregnant. She drops out of school. The boy vanishes. Her dreams of becoming a nurse? Gone, and dreams shattered awwww poor Ama. 

Would sex education have changed this? Absolutely. If Ama had known her rights, the risks involved, and how to say no;  if she had someone to talk to without shame, her life might have taken a different turn.

What Should a Good Sex Education Curriculum Contain?

A well-structured curriculum should include the following:

1. Anatomy and Puberty : Understanding the body, changes during adolescence.

2. Menstrual Hygiene : Especially for girls, to manage periods with dignity.

3. Contraception and Protection : Condoms, pills, abstinence, and their effectiveness.

4. Consent and Boundaries : How to say “No” and mean it.

5. Gender and Relationships : Respect, equality, and emotional maturity.

6. Online Safety : Sextortion, cyberbullying, pornography, and protecting digital privacy.

7. LGBTQ+ Awareness : Not promotion (and I repeat, no promotion), but understanding and preventing discrimination.

8. Reporting Abuse - How to seek help from trusted adults and systems.

Who Should Teach It and how should it be taught, too? : Not just anyone. Trained professionals; school counselors, health educators, and trained teachers should deliver this content. The content must be age-appropriate, culturally relevant, and values-based. It should not shy away from truth, but neither should it ignore Ghanaian morals and traditions..

What Parents Should Know and do : I understand some parents fear that sex education will make their children “too curious.” But curiosity without guidance is a bomb waiting to explode. Whether you like it or not, your children are already learning about sex; from friends, from pornography, from social media, and from the streets. Wouldn’t you rather they learned the truth from a responsible adult, in a safe space, with correct facts? Parents must partner with schools to shape the curriculum, give feedback, and even attend Parent-Teacher Forums where sex education issues are discussed.

A Case Study: Uganda’s Success

 Uganda faced a similar crisis with teenage pregnancy and HIV infections. In 2000, they introduced Comprehensive Sexuality Education in secondary schools, tailored to their culture. Within 10 years, the rate of teenage pregnancy dropped by 25%, and HIV awareness soared. Ghana can learn from Uganda’s example : adapt, not adopt. We can make sex education our own.

Boys Matter Too - Too often, the conversation is centered on girls. But boys are equally vulnerable;  to misinformation, peer pressure, and abusive adults. Boys need to understand that masculinity is not about conquest, but respect. They must learn that rape is not just a crime, but a violation of humanity. Let’s teach our boys to value consent, to express emotions without shame, and to reject harmful “boys will be boys” ideologies.

The Role of Faith and Traditional Leaders : it must be well understood that, indeed Sex education is not anti-religion. In fact, every major religion promotes chastity, discipline, and respect for the body. What if pastors and imams supported well-designed sex education in schools as a moral responsibility?

Likewise, traditional leaders should be involved. They are custodians of culture and can help guide how the messages are delivered, especially in rural areas.

Digital Age, New Challenges

In today’s world, young people are exposed to content on TikTok, WhatsApp, and YouTube by age 10. Some watch pornography before they even understand what it means. Without proper guidance, their perception of sex is twisted, dangerous, and unrealistic.

Sex education is more important now than ever before. It is a shield, not a sword.

Recommendations for Ghana’s Ministry of Education

1. Reintroduce Sex Education into the curriculum under a culturally-sensitive name and structure.

2. Train Teachers specifically in how to teach this subject.

3. Engage Stakeholders : parents, religious leaders, psychologists, and students.

4. Launch Public Campaigns to educate society about the purpose of sex education.

5. Include Real-Life Counseling in schools, not just guidance sessions but safe spaces.

6. Evaluate Regularly and adjust based on feedback from schools and communities.

In my last words,  I strongly say 'The Silence Must End'

As I, Honeybrowne, write this, I feel a heavy burden, the burden of truth that no one wants to say aloud.

We are failing our children. We are sacrificing their futures on the altar of cultural silence. We are watching girls drop out, boys fall into crime, and futures get shattered ;  all because we are afraid to talk about sex.

But I choose to talk. And I ask you to join me.

Let’s give our children a chance , a  real one. Let’s go back to what works. Let’s bring back sex education, not as a Western doctrine, but as a Ghanaian necessity. Let’s save a generation.

If we don’t, who will?

By: Honeybrowne Okaakyire, B.Ed.

A passionate Ghanaian educator, youth advocate, and social commentator.

worldhoneybrowne.blogspot.com