The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has stated that there should be no ambiguity regarding the definitions of male and female, or sex, in any educational literature.
He said the Ministry recognises only the biological definitions of these terms, which must be reflected in every publication, curriculum, and communication on educational matters.
“Every publication, curriculum, and communication from the Ministry must reflect the biological definitions of these terms,” he emphasised.
His comments come in the wake of controversies over alleged LGBTQ-related content being introduced into the country’s Senior High School curriculum.
Speaking on the sidelines of an event in Tamale on Thursday, Mr Iddrisu insisted that the claims were “false and misleading.”
He explained that the mishap, which occurred in a viral document developed in 2024, does not reflect the position of the Ministry.
Nonetheless, he said the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) has taken urgent action to revise the Year Two Teacher Education Curriculum.
“NaCCA will ensure that all educational materials are clear, accurate, and standardised across all schools in the country. Our stance on using biological definitions is meant to eliminate confusion, promote uniformity, and ensure that all teaching and learning content aligns with national standards,” he added.
Training and discipline
The Minister made the remarks at the opening of a two-day National Master Training on Essential Values for Ghanaians, organised by the Ghana Education Service.
The training seeks to equip facilitators to prepare, train, and support school-level teams in implementing Value Learning Communities (VLCs) and the new Guidance and Counselling framework.
The event brought together selected guidance and counselling coordinators from across the country.
Mr Iddrisu said the training would help facilitators instil core values, discipline, and good behaviour among students, which are essential for fostering a productive learning environment.
He added, “Discipline in schools is the foundation for academic excellence and moral development. Through these trainings, we aim to empower educators to guide students not just academically, but also in character and ethics.”
He highlighted the Ministry’s efforts to uphold national educational standards and ensure consistency in value-based learning and discipline across all schools.
