Schools should provide non-gender-specific toilets and change rooms with individual stalls or cubicles that can provide privacy for all users. Teachers should stop gender-segregated practices such as separating boys and girls into different lines at school and gender-neutral uniforms should be available for all pupils.
These are among the suggestions in the department of basic education’s guidelines for the socio-educational inclusion of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity, expression and sex characteristics (SOGIESC).
The guidelines aim to assist school administrators, leaders, and educators with developing and implementing strategies “for a safe, equitable, and socially just learning environment for all pupils, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, expression and sex characteristics”.
According to the 25-page document, which is still under wraps, research has indicated that schools are unsafe spaces “for pupils who are non-heteronormative or who are perceived as such”.
“These pupils have been subjected to discrimination, violence and vilification by peers and educators,” it says.
“They have been excluded from the curriculum and social activities because of repressive attitudes towards sexual and gender diversity, inadequate facilities, as well as the refusal to acknowledge their equal rights to a socially just learning environment.”
The document states that when organising school camps, it is important to discuss with the pupils' parents and caregivers, sleeping arrangements and areas for showering and changing clothes.
When it comes to sports, schools are best placed to make decisions about participation in sporting activities within the school.
“For children over 12 years of age, restrictions on participation in sport may be imposed on the basis of biological sex or gender identity, if the restriction is reasonable, having regard to the strength, stamina or physique requirements of the sport.”
Supervision around washrooms and changing facilities should be increased as they are hotspots for bullying.
The document stated that schools should have a policy that allows pupils with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, to play sport according to their gender identity, and be included in all non-contact sports.
“All students shall be permitted to participate in physical education classes and extramural sports in a manner consistent with their gender identity.”
The guidelines recommend that the school should discuss with the pupil and parent the toilet and change room that should be used.
“Under no circumstances shall a pupil be required to use a single-user facility because they identify with a non-heteronormative sexual orientation, are transgender or are gender nonconforming.”
Facilities should be labelled sensitively and appropriately and adult supervision around these facilities should be increased as they are “hotspots for bullying”.
The document stated “it is harmful to transgender, gender diverse and intersex people if they are misgendered, and their dead names and incorrect pronouns are used when referring to them”.
“It is important to consistently use pupils’ chosen names and pronouns. School staff are encouraged to use a pupil’s preferred name, and also preferred gender and pronouns when requested.
“Transgender boys may want to be identified as “he/him” instead of “they/them”.
The guidelines also encourages educators to consider a language that does not reference anyone’s gender.
“Avoid binary and predetermined gender categories, for example, ‘hello ladies and gentlemen’ or ‘there is a young woman here’. Promote gender-neutral language that is more inclusive of nonbinary people.”
Undo knowledge that privileges certain groups and create othering
Educators are encouraged to avoid making generalisations or assumptions about sexuality or gender identity, expressions or sex characteristics. “This aspect is important when delivering the curriculum related to relationships and sexuality education.
“Undo knowledge that privileges certain groups and create othering.”
Commenting on the issue of schools having to build private stalls in bathrooms, MP Wynand Boshoff from the FF Plus said while there was a suggestion there should be no sign assigning any bathroom to a specific gender, “many schools are still using pit latrines”.
“An orderly society cannot exist without community norms. And yet, within any community there are exceptions, people whose personal identities do not conform to the general community norms” he said.
“A totalitarian community that forcefully imposes its norms is indeed not ideal.
“In a caring and functional community, exceptions are recognised and respected, but still considered exceptions. Every aspect of community, from marriage to bathrooms at schools, cannot be reconceptualised as if the exception is the norm.”
Boshoff said the FF Plus supports school governing bodies that want to maintain the community-approach in their schools.
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