Commodification, Sexuality and Choice Among School Children in A Ghanaian Community: The Consequences for Teaching, Learning and Life Chances

Abstract

This paper explores the phenomenon of early sexual practices among young schoolchildren in Ghana through the lens of the ability of young people in two peri-urban communities to make better or productive moral and ethical judgements that enable the sustenance of opportunities for education, learning and life chances. Using a questionnaire, interviews, conversations and observations, it reckons the schoolchildren’s reasoning and consciousness in determining their attitudes towards choices concerning early sexual practices and in their indulgence or otherwise. It argues that schoolchildren’s attitudes and behaviour are shaped by social philosophies including empiricism, solipsism, economism and commodification in a complete departure from the ways of knowing that obtained in society a generation ago. The consequences of such a radical change from the traditionalism of a generation ago is the development of a nihilistic attitude guiding their moral and ethical choices which are nevertheless detrimental to their own development into personhood and the development of their future opportunities through education, learning and life chances.