Mozambique’s Ministry of Education is withdrawing a set of Grade Seven textbooks containing some controversial topics on sexuality from its curriculum.
The natural sciences book addresses subjects such as masturbation and sexual orientation.
The education ministry said that the book has been in use since 2004 but with the controversies surrounding the topics, it will no longer be used in schools.
The decision by the ministry came amid opposition from some parents in the country who were against the use of the textbook. This is because, in some communities in Mozambique, teaching sexuality to young people is considered taboo.
Some parents also believed that sex education to Grade 7 pupils who are barely 13 years old may promote premature marriages and early pregnancies.
The ministry said that they will replace the book next year but in the meantime, it urged teachers to avoid the controversial topics.
“We talked to the publisher to remove that page (that contains sexuality topics),” Ismael Nheze, the director of the National Institute of Education Development said.
