By Kelvin Mokaya

For a very long time, our society has been ridden with cases of adolescent and teenage pregnancies, unintended pregnancies, skyrocketing new HIV infections, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and gender-based violence. At a time when innovations are at an all-time high, we’re yet to fully address all these issues that have life-changing consequences, more so for young people.

This is where Comprehensive Sexuality Education, CSE, comes in. According to the World Health Organisation, Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), is the dissemination of age-appropriate information about sexuality and sexual and reproductive health. With a much clearer definition, the folks at UNESCO describe CSE as a curriculum that teaches about the cognitive, emotional, physical, and social aspects of sexuality, aiming to equip people with the knowledge and skills to ensure their health, well-being, respectful relationships, and rights.

For starters, the notion that CSE is all about teaching young people about sex is as false, that CSE makes young people’s onset of sexual activities even sooner is an even a bigger myth.

As evidenced by the ‘international technical guidance on sexuality education: an evidence-informed approach’, among other things, CSE promotes and leads to delayed sexual initiation, decreased frequency in sexual intercourse, decreased number of sexual partners, reduced risk-taking, increased and more consistent condom use, increased and more consistent use of contraceptive methods.

Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) extends beyond mere conversations about sex, embracing a wide array of critical topics. An effective curriculum covers fundamental areas such as human rights, family life, interpersonal relationships, personal and collective values, cultural and social norms, gender equality, and non-discrimination.

Additionally, it addresses sexual behavior, gender-based violence, the importance of consent and bodily autonomy, sexual abuse, and harmful practices like child, early, and forced marriages, along with female genital mutilation/cutting.We must agree that all these are some of the most vital information and skills that anyone should have to navigate life as we know it.

That is why it is so unfortunate that we have recently seen backlash on comprehensive sexuality education. The clergy has so far been the loudest as far as opposing CSE is concerned. One esteemed member even went ahead and called CSE satanic. The solution they give: get parents and teachers to talk to young people about CSE.

Why is it ineffective for parents and teachers to discuss CSE with young people? Parents and teachers often lack the proper training, ease, and impartial viewpoint needed to effectively teach comprehensive sexuality education, resulting in inconsistent and incomplete information. Standardised CSE programs, taught by trained professionals, ensure children receive precise, thorough, and unbiased education on these vital topics.

This is why opposing comprehensive sexuality education is a risky gamble. We want a nation where young people have all the necessary accurate knowledge on everything about their sexuality. We want a nation where young people know how to form and keep meaningful relationships. We want people who are mindful of their and other people’s rights. We want a nation where its people know that FGM is not the way to go. We want young people to grow up knowing that any form of violence is not okay.

Now that talking has not gotten us anywhere, it’s only fair that we give CSE a chance. Let’s give our young people the benefit of the doubt by furnishing them with information to help them make better choices for themselves and their loved ones.

Mr. Mokaya is a Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Expert at NAYA Kenya.