On a recent morning flight, Dr. Segun Adebayo, the Executive Director of the Centre for African Policy Research and Advisory (CAfPRA), spoke candidly about a growing concern for African parents: the quiet introduction of sexualised content and contested curriculum materials into schools across the continent.
In the conversation, Dr. Adebayo outlined what parents must know, the active role they must play in protecting their children, and why curriculum transparency has become a serious policy priority for African nations. He highlighted how certain education materials introduce concepts of sexuality and “bodily autonomy” to children at very young ages, often long before most parents expect such topics to appear in the classroom.
“Parents frequently discover these teachings only after the fact,” he noted. “By the time families become aware, the material has already been delivered. This is not transparent education; it is content introduced without the full knowledge or consent of the primary caregivers.”
He drew a clear distinction between basic safety education, which is age-appropriate guidance on personal safety, boundaries, and protection from harm, and ideological content that promotes contested ideas about identity, sexuality, and autonomy at stages of childhood when children are not developmentally ready.
“Parents are the first educators of their children,” Dr. Adebayo emphasised. “No institution, whether foreign or local, has the right to override that sacred responsibility. When classroom content is shaped without the knowledge or consent of families, the foundation of African society is placed at risk.”
CAfPRA maintains that education systems must respect parental authority and protect children from premature sexualisation. The organisation continues to advocate for policies that keep African cultural and family values at the centre of curriculum development.
Dr. Adebayo urged parents to take concrete action:
- Demand full transparency on all curriculum materials and teaching resources used in their children’s schools.
- Request advance notice and access to any content related to sexuality, relationships, identity, or bodily autonomy.
- Engage school authorities, parent-teacher associations, and education ministries to insist on age-appropriate, culturally grounded materials.
- Work with faith communities, civil society groups, and policymakers to ensure that education remains aligned with the values of African families.
CAfPRA reiterates its position that African education systems must prioritise the protection of children and the authority of parents. Curriculum decisions should not be shaped by external frameworks that introduce ideological content under the guise of “comprehensive” or “rights-based” education without rigorous local scrutiny.