THE education ministry in Mozambique announced yesterday that a seventh-grade natural science textbook will be removed from schools following social media outrage over content that mentioned masturbation and homosexuality.
For the past 18 years, students in the southern African country have been studying “The Secret of Life” by Portuguese publisher Texto Editores.
However, after being posted on Facebook last Thursday, elements of a chapter on sexual orientation and masturbation went popular on social media.
Under duress, the education ministry soon agreed to pull the book from circulation, with controversial sections being removed in a revised edition set to be released later this year.
“For us, the topic of sexuality is important and should continue to be addressed,” education ministry spokeswoman Gina Guibunda stated
But “we recognise that in that book the theme may have been treated in a way that divided opinions,” she said.
Sex education will continue to be taught but “in a way that does not create problems in society”.
A section of the book taught to children aged between 12 and 13 reads “sometimes it is more comfortable to have a relationship with someone of the same sex. It is called a homosexual relationship”.
The book also said that some teens are afraid to express themselves due to fear of “brutal” reactions by parents and family.
Mozambique decriminalised homosexuality in 2015.
The book also describes masturbation as a way to know how one’s body works.
“It is a natural practice…(but) is surrounded by myths and beliefs,” it says.
Some commentators and teachers found the government’s move unreasonable.
Pupils “need to learn and get well informed about this,” a Maputo-based teacher Dorca Muiambo said
