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Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has directed that there should be no ambiguity in the definition of a man and a woman in Ghana’s educational curriculum, insisting that references to sex in all teaching materials must be based strictly on biological sex.
Speaking at a teachers’ training workshop in Tamale on Thursday, January 15, 2025, Mr Iddrisu addressed growing public concerns over the definition of gender identity contained in a Senior High School teacher’s manual.
The minister explained that although the controversial content was developed in 2024, he chose not to politicise the issue, stressing that his focus was on what is best for Ghanaian teachers, learners and the broader society.
He disclosed that the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) has accepted responsibility for the controversy and acknowledged that the definition of gender identity in the manual does not reflect Ghanaian values, culture and societal norms.
According to Mr Iddrisu, NaCCA has since recalled all 736 printed copies of the Year Two Physical Education and Health Elective Teacher Manual for Senior High Schools and has released a revised version. He noted that corrections have already been made to the online version and urged teachers to rely only on the updated digital copy.
The education minister further reminded stakeholders that the national curriculum is dynamic and regularly updated to reflect current standards, adding that all approved revisions will be accessible on the official curriculum resources website.
He emphasised that for educational purposes in Ghana, sex must be understood as biological sex determined at birth, stating that every publication by the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service and allied institutions must reflect this definition.
Mr Iddrisu concluded that upholding these definitions is essential to preserving the moral values of Ghanaian society, noting that the upbringing of children must be grounded in cultural norms that the country holds dear.
