AQW 10654/22-27

Ms Kate Nicholl
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 23/04/2024
Answered On Date: 29/04/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail his plans to improve the Relationships and Sexuality Education curriculum to better inform children and young people about consent and healthy relationships.

Answer:

The flexibility in our curriculum means that schools can discuss important issues such as consent and healthy relationships at a time when they are important to pupils and are the subject of wider debate across society. My Department requires schools to consult with parents and pupils and to reflect feedback in their taught programme.

My officials have established a task and finish group to consider the findings of the Education and Training Inspectorate’s (ETI) Evaluation of the Preventative Curriculum in Schools and Education Other Than At School EOTAS) Centres. The report found that some sensitive topics, such as consent, were not covered sufficiently, or at all, in some schools. My officials are currently working on guidance to address these issues and I will consider whether it is appropriate to issue further advice to schools in response to the ETI report.