Board Chairman of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA), Prof. Vincent Assanful, has confirmed that a contested definition of gender identity in a Physical Health and Education (PH&E) teachers’ manual for Senior High Schools is authentic and currently in use.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Prof. Assanful explained that the document was developed under NaCCA’s supervision and went through official approval processes. He said he personally sought internal clarification after teachers raised concerns over the content.
“It was brought to my attention this morning, and honestly, I didn’t understand it well. So, I forwarded it to the Deputy Director in charge of Technical Services, who oversees curriculum development,” he said.
The Deputy Director reportedly verified the manual as genuine, confirming that it originated from NaCCA.
The manual defines gender identity as a person’s deeply felt internal experience of gender, which may or may not correspond to the sex assigned at birth.
It also notes that gender may include being male, female, or a blend of both, going beyond a strictly binary concept.
Prof. Assanful admitted that he was concerned about the wording and its potential interpretations. “The definition connotes LGBTQ+ practice,” he said, adding that such content raises legitimate questions among stakeholders.
He further questioned how such a definition made it into the manual despite the involvement of subject experts.
“I drew the Deputy Director’s attention to the definition. It is strange that during the preparation of the document, a subject expert reviewed it. He said he would contact the relevant parties to find out how this eluded us,” he explained.
Although the team provided an explanation from the experts, Prof. Assanful said he remains unconvinced. “He has communicated the expert’s response, but I am not convinced,” he noted.
He confirmed that he has escalated the matter to senior leadership. “I have engaged the Director-General as well, Prof. Bekoe,” he said, signaling that the issue is now receiving attention at the highest level.
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