As the final hours approached for making submissions to the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), Dr Caroline West encouraged readers to support proposals that would empower students to make “informed decisions that are right for them’ — ‘High time our sex education reflected modern Irish society” (Irish Examiner, October 25).

Plans for a standalone course to teach primary pupils about world religions and ethics may be hampered by a law that gives a school patron tight control on what can be taught.