Prof. Vincent Assanful, Board Chairman of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA), has confirmed that a controversial definition of gender identity in the Physical Health and Education (PH&E) teachers’ manual for Senior High Schools is currently under review.
Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem, Prof. Assanful said the review process is comprehensive, covering the curriculum from the basic to the secondary level.
“We have instructed our team that during the review, the definition of gender must reflect Ghanaian family values,” he said.
Prof. Assanful explained that the current definition, which describes gender identity as a person’s deeply felt internal experience of gender, “may or may not correspond to the sex assigned at birth” and further indicates that gender could include being male, female, or a blend of both.
“Upon reading it, I realized it connotes LGBTQ+ definitions. This morning, it came to my attention, and we immediately took action to ensure it is addressed in the curriculum review,” he added.
He noted that in the review process, this definition should have been flagged but was missed.
“Unfortunately, it is something we can talk about. We are now making sure that when we reach that part in the review, we will carefully examine it,” he said.
Prof. Assanful also clarified that the review is not limited to the gender identity section alone.
“The whole ‘definition of terms’ section will be given a critical second look to ensure accuracy and appropriateness,” he said.
He reassured teachers, parents, and well-meaning Ghanaians that steps are being taken to prevent any inconvenience while the review is ongoing.
“We will discuss immediate measures to forestall any impact this section may have on teachers and parents until the review is complete,” he stated.
The NaCCA Chairman disclosed that the review process aims to ensure the curriculum aligns with national values while remaining educationally sound.
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