State must clarify its stance on relationships and sexual education in schools
While Catholic teaching had not changed, the passing of the same-sex marriage referendum in 2015 was one of the factors that helped lead to a welcome increase in LGBTIQ+ rights activities in many Irish Catholic schools. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
Last week’s decision by the Vatican that "The Church cannot bless same-sex unions" should convince the Department of Education of the urgent need to take full control of the Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) programme in State-funded schools.
For decades, the provision of RSE has been grossly inadequate in our curriculum, as school boards have had the option to filter topics such as sexual orientation and contraception through the lens of their particular ethos. Interestingly, a recent National Council for Curriculum and Assessment report noted that, even within religious schools, the delivery of RSE has varied dramatically, suggesting, it would seem, that the liberal or conservative views of the principal and/or board were a more important factor than the ethos.
