In upcoming government proposals set to be released Thursday, schools in England may face restrictions on teaching sex education and gender identity to children under the age of nine. The decision stems from concerns surrounding the appropriateness of lesson content for primary school children, as highlighted in a statement from the education ministry. Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak emphasized the importance of maintaining a safe learning environment for children, expressing dismay over reports of inappropriate material being taught in classrooms.
Under the proposed changes, sex education for children under nine would be prohibited, and the teaching of gender identity as a controversial concept would also be excluded from primary school curricula, according to the ministry. This shift comes in response to a growing debate over what should be taught in schools regarding gender identity.
These developments come in the wake of a significant review that cautioned against hastily prescribing hormone treatments to young people dealing with gender identity issues. The review emphasized the need for careful consideration in such cases. Additionally, the upcoming proposals will incorporate new content focused on suicide prevention and educating students about the dangers of consuming online material that promotes self-harm.
The government’s proposals are slated to undergo a nine-week consultation period before becoming official policy. Once finalized, the new regulations will be legally binding.
