For the first time in South Africa, the subject sexuality education has been comprehensively opened up for debate.

The Faculty of Education at the University of the Free State (UFS) convened a colloquium this week that dealt with the field of sexuality and education in South Africa, how sexuality is taught and how it should be taught.

Entitled “Sexuality, Society and Pedagogy,” the colloquium was addressed by leading researchers in the fields of education and sociology, and covered topics such as: how to teach sex education most effectively; how teachers should deal with their own preconceptions and values when dealing with sensitive topics; how school children view sex, gender, disability, homosexuality and homophobia; the implications of teaching the subject incorrectly; and the role that educators could and should play in forming the gender-based world view of their young charges.

Please read the attached document for the complete story on the colloquium.

• Document