Sex and family-life education in Francophone West Africa
Dossou-yovo, N.
Africa Link a Publication of the Africa Region 1980: 6-10
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0250-698X PMID: 12262364 Document Number: 407564
Differences in sexual practice and sex education in formerly colonized areas of Africa are the focus of this article. It argues that, due to superimposed attitudes and access to new contraceptive technologies, differences in practice and family life can be seen between so-called francophone Africa and anglophone Africa. This study has 4 parts: 1) an examination of traditions which can be exploited for sex education today; 2) a look into the problem of sex education within the school system; 3) a characterization of persons outside the regular institutions of learning; and 4) a brief summary of the achievements of some west African francophone countries with regard to sex and family life education. In traditional Africa, sex education was diffuse and was implicit at the family and society levels; simply stated, there was no fooling around before marriage of any kind. When traditions collapsed after west African colonization and liberation, parents in francophone Africa turned to the school system for help. But, until the last decade, the schools have failed to coordinate a sex education program backed by a stable philosophy (this is in great contrast to anglophone Africa). A possible resolution to this situation is to incorporate sex education training into teachers' training; at the same time, programs of seminars and information campaigns must continue in this relatively unreceptive culture.