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THE Department of Basic Education said on Wednesday that it has noted with disappointment media reports about plans to introduce unisex toilets in public schools.
The department said speculation in the media was based on a leaked document about consultations that are currently underway on the Guidelines for the Socio-educational Inclusion of Diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Expression and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) in Schools.
The @A_C_D_P notes with shock and disapproval that the @DBE_SA has proposed a set of new ‘gender guidelines’ encouraging schools to install unisex toilets. This set of radical rule-changes for schools will allegedly move communities away from the usual ‘gender norms’ in society.
— Kenneth Meshoe (@RevMeshoe) November 4, 2022
“The media reports are based mainly on an initial draft discussion document which has since evolved following consultation before it is published for public comment.”
“This is a matter blown out of proportion, which may have arisen from the consultations that are currently underway on the Guidelines for the Socio-educational Inclusion of Diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Expression and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) in Schools,” the department said in a statement.
The department said a narrow focus on “unisex toilets” is unfortunate as it misses the bigger debate on the elimination of gender discrimination in all spheres of society.
The document, although still under continued consultation, asks pertinent questions about inclusion of sexually and gender diverse children pertaining to school admission, curriculum, co-curricular programmes, uniforms, and facilities.
“It is not entirely true that the Department is proposing unisex toilets. Instead, the Department is probing about relevant response mechanisms to ensure the constitutional obligation for socio-educational inclusion of sexual minorities, and avoid the currently overwhelming litigation,” said DBE.
DBE said the bigger part of the document is an exploration of how the education system supports schools to create a safe and caring environment so that all children may experience a good living and learning experience without discrimination or prejudice.
“The petitions conducted by some political parties are premature because a formal public engagement process will take place once the current phase of consultations are concluded,” the Department said, appealing for calm as the matter is still being processed in terms of the normal protocols.
The guidelines are still undergoing district consultations as recommended by the Council of Education Ministers and will be published in 2023.
– Inside Education