Northern Ireland relationship and sex education inquiry: Education Committee chairman comes under fire over transgender awareness for pre-school children
The Chair of the Stormont Education Committee has come under fire after suggesting the aim of a new inquiry he is chairing is to determine whether pre-school children can be aware they are transgender.
Committee Chairperson and Alliance education spokesperson Nick Mathison formally announced the Education Committee's inquiry on Wednesday.
He said it would evaluate whether Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) in schools is meeting the diverse needs of all children.
It will also assess whether school RSE policies align with Westminster legislation requiring NI secondary schools to teach access to contraception and abortion, as well as parental/pupil consultation; serious sexual offences; sexual consent and sexual violence against women and girls.
However chair Nick Mathison MLA has been challenged after comments he made to the Nolan Show in June.
Asked whether he believes children between the ages of three and five can become aware they are transgender, he replied.
"I think that is a matter for experts in this field to make a decision on... and this is exactly why I have called for the inquiry... so that we can hear expert evidence across the board and come to a consensus view.
He added that "whatever age a child begins asking questions in relation to these issues, they should be supported in an age appropriate manner to navigate that. The world is a complicated place for our children and young people now, and our schools should be places where they should be supported in an appropriate manner."
A DUP spokesman expressed concern about the comments.
"The Dept of education has black hole of £200m in its budget and yet the priority for the Alliance Party is to hold an inquiry into relationships and sex education?" he said.
"And the person chairing the committee, Alliance MLA Nick Mathison - told the Nolan Show in June that he believes it is a priority for a three year old child to know whether or not they are transgender."
The DUP said that although it is represented on the committee, the demand for the inquiry is being "driven" by the Alliance Party.
The convener of the Presbyterian Church’s Education Committee, Rev Robert Herron, said they would take part in the inquiry. He said RSE should be taught “within a curriculum that promotes the spiritual, emotional, moral, cultural, intellectual and physical development of pupils", as laid down by the Education (Curriculum Minimum Content) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007.”
David Smyth of the Evangelical Alliance said RSE inquiries have already been held recently by the NI Human Rights Commission and the Education Training Inspectorate.
"At this time of constrained budgets, a crisis of support for pupils with special education needs and poor educational outcomes for children with care experience and those in poverty, we would encourage the Committee to spend more time on these issues [rather than RSE].”
However Northern Ireland Humanists Coordinator Boyd Sleator strongly supported the inquiry.
"Following the Assembly's passing of significant legislation mandating compulsory, standardised, and high-quality Relationships and Sex Education (RSE), this inquiry is a welcome opportunity to set out why RSE provision in Northern Ireland needs significant reform," he said.
"For too long children have been vulnerable to religious bias in the teaching of crucial RSE topics, for example on LGBT inclusivity, safe sex, and abortion."
An Alliance Party spokesman rejected the DUP interpretation of Mr Mathison's comments.
"All parties on the committee - including the DUP - agreed to this inquiry taking place," he said. "We look forward to its findings and continue to focus on all issues relating to the education of our children and young people."