Ian Ellis: More time will be needed to consider sex education plan

At post-primary level, Key Stage 3 covers Years 8, 9 and 10 and Key Stage 4 covers Years 11 and 12.

The department added that the legislation also requires it to bring forward regulations in respect of the parental right to have their child excused from receiving these particular lessons. However, it was made clear that this withdrawal option does not apply to any other areas of RSE.

The consultation focuses on the circumstances and arrangements which would enable parents or carers to exercise the opt-out right. However, just how “age-appropriate” is to be defined is a debatable area and when presenting “comprehensive and scientifically accurate education” on the issues, what is key is what may be included and what may not be included.

The consultation is running currently and concludes on November 24, having started on September 1.

The department's plan is that, in light of the consultation's findings, it will “develop guidance on the arrangements to have a child excused by 1 January 2024”. However, in a forthright statement to this newspaper, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) has described the deadline for the consultation as “unrealistic and insensitive”.

The statement indicated: “The Secretary of State’s deadline of 1st January 2024 for the introduction of his revised RSE curriculum to post-primary schools is a further example of his unrealistic and insensitive approach to these matters, given that school leaders are already facing enormous pressures including those caused by reduced funding.”

The spokesperson went on to call on the Secretary of State “to reconsider his timetable so that Northern Ireland’s Department of Education can conduct a truly meaningful consultation with all stakeholders on these most sensitive of issues”.

Evangelical Alliance NI (EA-NI) will be holding four upcoming consultation response events later this month and into October in Belfast, Dungannon, Enniskillen and Portstewart.

In an article on the subject, EA-NI's head, David Smyth, says that some churches and Christian organisations raised concerns about a report that was released last June by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission entitled 'Relationships and Sexuality Education in post-primary schools in Northern Ireland: a compelling case for reform'.

That report, he says, had resulted from an investigation into the provision of RSE in Northern Ireland, adding that, inter alia, the Commission recommended that the Curriculum Minimum Content Order (NI) 2007 be changed to “make age-appropriate, comprehensive and scientifically accurate education on sexual and reproductive health and rights a compulsory component of the curriculum for adolescents, covering prevention of early pregnancy and access to abortion”.

Sexuality issues are a minefield and to navigate through that minefield requires immense sensitivity and respect for a whole range of views. There is no short cut in this process, and referring to “age-appropriate and scientifically accurate education” begs many questions, such as:

• Who decides what is age-appropriate?

• What criteria are used in determining this?

• How can one ensure that the presentation of scientifically accurate information includes a full range of information?

• Will the scientifically accurate information include what an abortion procedure surgically entails?

The Northern Ireland Office has reportedly said that the relevant lessons should be taught “in a factual way that does not advocate, nor oppose, a particular view on the moral and ethical considerations of abortion or contraception”. However, it is extremely difficult to be completely neutral about any issue, let alone a highly charged one, and suggesting that this can be done simply by sticking to facts ignores the reality that the actual selection of facts for presentation may lack necessary balance, yet still facts will have been presented.

A salient point was made in a News Letter report by Philip Bradfield (September 2) that in England there is a statutory requirement for RSE to take into account a school's ethos and the religious background of pupils.

David Smyth has said that EA-NI will be advocating that school ethos should continue to be respected and protected when teaching sensitive and often pastoral issues. He stresses the importance of a proper approach to RSE, pointing to the widespread use of smartphones among 12 to 15-year-olds, which is of course of vital importance when considering relationship and sexuality issues.

He writes: “So regardless of what is taught in the classroom we need to consider what is going on in the playground. Children and young people still need to be equipped to navigate these kinds of issues safely, using their faith and values.”

There is no doubt that even primary school-age children can be extremely versatile in using the internet, a space where, just as in the non-virtual world, good and bad co-exist. As far as the current consultation on RSE is concerned, it certainly should be extended beyond November 24 to allow more time for all concerned to consult as necessary and to consider the quite complex questions that arise.

• Canon Ian Ellis is a former editor of The Church of Ireland Gazette