After 25 years of delays, France's Education Minister Elisabeth Borne has announced the introduction of a formal sex education curriculum in schools. This initiative aims to address pressing social issues, including prevention of sexual abuse among children and the influence of online pornography.
France Implements Long-Awaited Sex Education Curriculum in Schools
France Implements Long-Awaited Sex Education Curriculum in Schools
The French government is finally enforcing a mandated sex education program, covering topics like consent and gender stereotypes starting this September.
Students in French schools can expect to receive education on various critical topics beginning in September. This new curriculum, which includes lessons about sex, gender stereotypes, and consent, marks a significant policy shift for the French government. The introduction comes nearly a quarter-century after a law was established to ensure sex education across all schools but was never executed.
Sarah Durocher, the president of Le Planning Familial, an organization akin to Planned Parenthood, expressed satisfaction, stating, “We have been waiting 25 years for this." This sentiment echoes the long-standing advocacy for comprehensive sex education, underscored by the urgency of addressing the realities confronting French youth.
The push for the curriculum has not been without contention. Conservative opposition has emerged, with over 100 senators from the right-wing party Les Républicains publicly denouncing the program for promoting what they describe as “ideological brainwashing” and insisting that references to "gender identity" should be eliminated.
Despite these objections, Minister Borne has emphasized the necessity of the new educational framework. She referenced alarming statistics from an independent commission indicating that one child in France is sexually abused every three minutes, predominantly by family members. In this context, the minister criticized the fact that many children are currently learning about sex from online pornography, further highlighting the need for structured education.
With the implementation of this curriculum, France hopes to foster a more informed, safe, and respectful understanding of sexual health and relationships among its youth.
Sarah Durocher, the president of Le Planning Familial, an organization akin to Planned Parenthood, expressed satisfaction, stating, “We have been waiting 25 years for this." This sentiment echoes the long-standing advocacy for comprehensive sex education, underscored by the urgency of addressing the realities confronting French youth.
The push for the curriculum has not been without contention. Conservative opposition has emerged, with over 100 senators from the right-wing party Les Républicains publicly denouncing the program for promoting what they describe as “ideological brainwashing” and insisting that references to "gender identity" should be eliminated.
Despite these objections, Minister Borne has emphasized the necessity of the new educational framework. She referenced alarming statistics from an independent commission indicating that one child in France is sexually abused every three minutes, predominantly by family members. In this context, the minister criticized the fact that many children are currently learning about sex from online pornography, further highlighting the need for structured education.
With the implementation of this curriculum, France hopes to foster a more informed, safe, and respectful understanding of sexual health and relationships among its youth.
