curriculum

A viral post on X, formerly Twitter, sparked discussions among netizens about a Junior Secondary School Three science textbook, which details the process, types, and reasons for abortion, as well as family planning, writes GRACE EDEMA

Page 135 of the Classic Basic Science and Technology for Junior Secondary School Three used by some schools in Nigeria, partly reads, “There are two types of surgical abortion. Dilation and curettage (D & C): The cervix is dilated (opened and expanded) and a special instrument is used to scrape or scoop some linings and other materials in the uterus. D&C, also called vacuum aspiration, is used when the pregnancy is under 15 weeks.

“Dilation Evacuation (D & E): This involves dilating the cervix and using narrow forceps to evacuate the embryo that has formed bones. It is more difficult and requires more techniques than a simple D & C. It is used for 15-24 weeks old pregnancy.”

An X (formerly Twitter) user Alex Onyia, who posted the book’s cover and page on abortion, raised the alarm over the content, which he described as harmful information for learners.

Onyia wrote, “This book is teaching Jss1 students in Nigerian schools how to do abortion with clear images. Parent wake up and save your children. NERDC approved this!

“Corruption is not just about stealing money, it destroys our coming generation!”

The book, published by Thursmay Publishers, is authored by M. Abdussalam, F.A Ibekwe, D.E Akintelure and B.B Akintelure and has the approval stamp of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council on the cover page.

In Nigeria, the approval of school textbooks is primarily overseen by NERDC. The NERDC is responsible for developing and reviewing curricula and ensuring that educational materials, including textbooks, align with the national curriculum and meet the required standards.

Also, NERDC has the statutory responsibility to: develop, review, and enrich curricula at all levels; undertake and promote book development and local authorship for quality assurance; and conduct educational research to inform public policy formulation and implementation.

The book further explains the reasons for abortion, the consequences of unsafe abortion, and others.

However, Onyia’s viral post sparked mixed reactions by X users.

Johnson @Carrotsuite E wrote, “Catch them young. Next is to open Planned Parenthood branches to start harvesting aborted babies. Even the reasons written in the book sound absolutely like indoctrination and an inducement to think positively about it from a young age, already promoting a life of sexual carelessness from a tender age.

“Little surprise that so many don’t see anything wrong with this because they are already indoctrinated through books and movies. If we don’t fight this, we will lose that generation.”

Ogwu Ikechukwu, however, disagreed with Johnson.

“Should teenage girls in JSS3 not be taught about teenage pregnancy and its implications? Should they also not be taught about the dangers of abortion? That is the context of the topic. As stated above, the book is also clearly for JSS3 students and not JSS1.”

Tosin Brown added, “An average JSS 3 student is 13 to 16 years old, and they are teenagers. There is nothing wrong with this information for a teenager, and I see nothing wrong with this book.

“Unless we want to lie to ourselves, we have to teach them, or else the world will do so in a negative way. Most of these kids have access to the internet, watch explicit content, and are even more exposed than we parents think. It’s better to teach them to understand the disadvantages.”

Benjamin Chukwudum, in support of Brown’s comment, added, “With all due respect, ma’am, they don’t understand the challenges we face in the hospital. Such education is very appropriate for that age group. In three years, these young people will be fully integrated into society, and this information will help them navigate.”

Principals, parents react

But the All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Public Schools and the Parents Teachers Association strongly condemned the book for containing a chapter that covered the different types of abortion and how to use family planning in preventing it.

Both groups said such detrimental content was not in the Nigerian curriculum.

The National President of ANCOPPS, Musa Ibrahim, told our correspondent about the efforts they had put in place to investigate the book.

Ibrahim said, “We have set machinery in motion to ensure that any such books brought into schools will be seized immediately. We have liaised with the Ministry of Education to obtain copies for analysis, and we intend to use this as a point of advocacy with the ministry. We find the contents highly offensive, and school principals have already been instructed to take action.

“We’ve also engaged with PTAs at both the national and state levels, urging them to prevent the use of such books. A similar case occurred with an Integrated Science textbook in Kano, which we are currently tracking down to remove from circulation.

“I have also shared this information with all relevant groups, instructing them to be vigilant. Principals are expected to check books thoroughly and remain on the lookout for any similar material.”

He added, “The information in the book is not part of our curriculum. We teach topics like reproduction and a bit of sexuality in JS three and SS one, but the aim is to ensure that students understand they should not endorse such behaviour. These topics are not meant for JSS 1 students, as they are not included in the curriculum

“They labeled it as ‘sex education’ or ‘sexuality education,’ but we made it clear that we do not want it, and they should remove it. In the SS classes, reproduction is taught solely for examination purposes, as the students are semi-adults. ANCOPPS does not support this material, and we are taking steps to ensure it is confiscated.”

Ibrahim stressed the necessity of vetting educational materials in schools and instructing relevant groups to monitor for questionable books.

He advised parents to be cautious when purchasing textbooks not recommended by schools and assured stakeholders that principals in government schools were diligent in scrutinising these materials.

He said, “I have shared this particular book with all relevant groups, instructing them to be on the lookout for similar materials. Principals have also been directed to thoroughly check all books used in schools.

“These books are supposed to be approved by the NERDC, but we’ve discovered that some of the names on these publications don’t exist anywhere. For example, two years ago, we encountered an English textbook with unknown authors and despite contacting various sources, no one claimed responsibility for it.

“Parents should be cautious when purchasing textbooks that are not recommended by the school. In government schools, our principals are diligent in thoroughly scrutinising these materials.”

National chairman, PTA, Haruna Danjuma, stated, “This is completely unacceptable. Our children can’t be taught how to have an abortion. We will take this to the National Council and the Minister of Education. How did this book get into schools? We are going to fight it.”

National President, Association for Formidable Educational Development, Orji Emmanuel, described the book as “damaging information.”

“It is indeed sad. I have called for action on many occasions when it comes to the education of the Nigerian child; we cannot afford to be too busy with other issues and neglect our collective future,” Emmanuel said.

“As President, Association for Formidable Educational Development, I am deeply concerned about the controversy surrounding the book containing graphic content for 13-year-old JSS Two students. AFED prioritises the well-being, safety and education of our children.

“The book is not part of the approved curriculum. AFED condemns the inclusion of explicit or harmful content in educational materials. We urge NERDC, the Federal Government and relevant agencies to review and regulate educational materials.  AFED advocates for age-appropriate and responsible education.”

He urged all stakeholders to come together to review and regulate educational materials, promote digital literacy and responsible graphics usage, and support educators and parents in providing quality education.

Emmanuel added, “AFED remains committed to advancing education and protecting the interests of our children. We will continue to engage stakeholders and advocate for responsible education practices.”

The National President, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Yomi Otubela, also confirmed that the content was neither in the national curriculum nor the Lagos State Scheme of Work. He told our correspondent that the book was published by Thursmay Publishing.

“Looking through the national curriculum and the Lagos State scheme of work, I couldn’t find any specific topics that taught abortion or pregnancy prevention. However, some topics cover adolescent reproductive systems and how the ovaries work, among others.

“As for why the author included additional reproductive information beyond the curriculum, I cannot say. The curriculum or Lagos State’s guidelines do not include this. Also, I don’t think Lagos State recommended that particular edition of the book.”

Otubela, however, noted that due to children’s access to the internet and other sources of information, it was necessary to strike a balance in what is taught under sex education in schools.

He said, “I was shocked when I saw the content of the book. It’s not used here, but when I reviewed it, I found that it’s too advanced for children in JSS. Even for senior secondary students, I have reservations about such explicit details. The information should focus on the dangers of abortion, not how the procedure is performed. These students are not medical students, so why should they be learning surgical details?

“Even though it is true that young people have access to information via the Internet, we should still limit what we teach in schools. If they find this information on their own, we can guide them as counselors or discuss it in an appropriate, responsible way. However, we shouldn’t go into explicit detail, especially for teenagers.”

Otubela added, “We also have to recognise that today’s children are exposed to far more information than we were at their age, and while some of them might already know about these topics, it doesn’t mean we should actively teach it in schools without careful consideration.

“In conclusion, there needs to be a balance between cultural values and the realities of the internet age. The explicit details in this book have gone too far, and the Federal Government should review it and perhaps consider recalling the book from students. Sex education is important, but it should be delivered in an age-appropriate way, focusing on the consequences rather than the procedures.”

In a telephone chat with our correspondent, the Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, said, “My response to this media information is as follows: there is no way a book containing such offensive content would be approved by NERDC.

“Many textbooks in circulation have not gone through NERDC’s approval process. Some authors or publishers falsely claim their books are NERDC-approved to attract quick buyers.

“We require additional details, such as the name of the publisher, year of publication, and ISBN, to enable us to properly process and investigate this information.”

Also speaking, a clinical psychologist at the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Dr Adebimpe Oluwasayo, said the book’s content was completely inappropriate for young minds.

“While the authors may be attempting to prepare students for puberty, this approach could be counterproductive,” Dr Oluwasayo said.

“Teenagers learn quickly and tend to explore through various means, which can make this method potentially harmful. It’s important to consider that they may find themselves in vulnerable situations, and having prior knowledge of certain topics might diminish their moral judgment.

“The information provided is excessive for children in the 11 to 14-year age range. While sexual education is crucial, these young adolescents are at a stage of identity crisis versus role confusion in terms of psychosocial development.

“This stage, typically experienced during the turbulent teenage years, plays a vital role in developing a sense of personal identity. It will continue to influence their behaviour and development throughout their lives. Adolescents need to develop a sense of self and personal identity. Success in this stage leads to a strong sense of self, while failure can result in role confusion and a weakened sense of identity.

“During this period, children explore their independence. With the right encouragement and reinforcement, they will emerge with a strong sense of self and control. Those who lack clarity in their beliefs and desires may struggle with insecurity and confusion about their future.”