AQW 10753/22-27

Ms Kate Nicholl
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 24/04/2024
Answered On Date: 29/04/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail his plans for engaging with children and young people on the future development of Relationships and Sexuality Education.

Answer:

My Department uses a range of approaches to access the views of children and young people. In respect of Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE), this will include online focus groups, Education Authority Youth Service facilitated events and engagement with representative bodies such as the Secondary Schools Student Union of Northern Ireland and, subject to being invited to meet, the Youth Assembly Education Committee.

There is also regular contact both at Ministerial and official level with children and young people’s advocacy organisations. This includes the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, the Childrens Law Centre, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Mental Health Champion.

My Department will continue to adopt a range of approaches to engage with children and young people.

My Department also expects schools to engage directly with pupils in the development or review of their RSE policy and taught programme and to reflect input received in each of these.