The British government has issued draft guidance stating that gender identity should not be taught in schools in England. Plans to prevent sex education for children under nine have also been outlined, government sources have said. Secondary school children will be taught about protected characteristics, such as gender reassignment and sexual orientation, however. The updated guidelines state that schools should avoid teaching materials that present contested views as fact – including the idea that gender is a spectrum.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed the plans on Thursday, saying the guidelines would ensure children were not exposed to content that was inappropriate for their age. He said that he was horrified by reports of this happening in classrooms last year, and that the new guidance would protect children. The government is also making it easier for parents to access teaching materials from schools, in order for them to see what their children are learning.
Teachers and teaching unions have responded to the planned changes, with some stating that there is no evidence of a widespread problem. Others have suggested that if children are unable to obtain information about certain topics from their teachers, they will seek answers online, where they are more likely to come across harmful content.
The draft guidance is currently open to consultation for nine weeks, after which it will be statutory. Once finalised, schools will be expected to follow it. The guidance has also outlined additional content on suicide prevention for secondary school pupils, advice for teachers on how to address misogynistic online influencers and on sexual harassment, and guidance on sex education
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More