The Catholic Church has denounced explicit sex education content in Grade 7 textbooks alleging to drop the teaching of abstinence in schools and introduce family planning.
In a statement endorsed by the Catholic Schools Principals’ Association, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) Commission for Education and Religious Education singled out Health Education textbooks by two publishers for seeking to “sexualize the learning environment”.
KCCB says the books published by the Kenya Literature Bureau and Oxford University Press were part of a well-choreographed scheme to encourage contraception.
“We note that the content not only sexualizes the learning environment for minors but will also be the biggest contributor to the high rates of teenage pregnancies and abortion,” Bishop Paul Kariuki said.
He pointed out that the material is against the Ministry of Education's guidelines prohibiting kids' exposure to explicit material.
The content of the publications above, according to the anti-abstinence teaching KCCB, does not establish abstinence as the expected standard for all children.
“Looking at the Grade 7 Learner’s book titled “Top Scholar Health Education” by the Kenya Literature Bureau under Strand 7 on Human Reproductive Health, sub- strand 7.2 on Reproductive Health on page 127 and Grade 7 Teacher’s Guide titled “” by Oxford University Press under Strand 7 on Human Reproductive Health, sub-strand 7.2 on Reproductive Health on page 153 have created room for introduction of family planning and encouragement of the use of contraception to very young learners,” Bishop Kariuki said.
KCCB stated that promoting family planning at the basic school level could increase teenage abortions if left unchecked.
The clergy pleaded with heads of Catholic schools to keep instilling the proper moral principles in the students.
