Cape Town - The Department of Basic Education should not forget its number one stakeholder – the pupils – when deliberating on the proposed unisex bathrooms and gender-neutral uniform guidelines for schools.
In case you missed it, the department’s proposed guidelines provide for schools to have unisex bathrooms.
The custodian of basic education in the Republic further proposed that pupils be allowed to wear uniforms that match their gender identity and expression.
The matter has been playing itself out in the public space for several days now.
It is worth noting that the proposed guidelines are far from being implemented, and the process in the coming weeks and months will include public participation, where all concerned parties will be able to have a say.
The South Africa Democratic Teachers Union is already on record as saying that parents have not been consulted.
There are critics who believe that if adopted as law, the guidelines would amount to taking the Madiba principles of freedom for all too far.
Another narrative is that the guidelines would mean forcing LGBTQI+ rights downs the throats of all.
In political spheres, it is believed that unisex toilets would encourage pupils to engage in sexual activity freely in the “safety” of the bathrooms, way out of sight of their peers and teachers.
Politicians have urged the department to instead focus on improving the quality of education before worrying about bathrooms and uniforms.
But while the mudslinging continues, the department would do well to source the views of pupils.
For instance, do boys want to share bathrooms with girls, and vice versa?
Does Stella want to walk out of a bathroom cubicle and ask Bongani to help tie her hair?
How about John? Will he relieve himself at the urinal, with Tshidi just a few steps away? What will these guidelines mean and do to the dignity of these children? How about James rocking up for school in skirts, weave, acrylic nails, and make-up?
Is this the idea of a school “that makes all learners feel welcomed” as envisaged by the department?
We hope all these questions will be answered by the time the public participation process has been concluded.
Cape Times