Nearly half of schools in a Northern Irish study teach little or nothing about sexual consent, according to a report from the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI).
The study also shows that teachers routinely lack confidence in relationship and sexuality education (RSE) and that most pupils are taught little or nothing about LGBT issues, sexual orientation or gender identity.
The report, The Preventative Curriculum in Schools and Education Other Than at School (EOTAS) Centres, was based on responses from more than 14,500 primary and post-primary pupils and 500 schools, and on visits by inspectors to 50 schools.
Schools in Northern Ireland are required to teach RSE to pupils, but the content of those lessons is left to each school and shaped largely by its ethos.
The ETI inspectors found insufficient lessons on topics such as consent, domestic abuse, gender, transgender issues, contraception, pregnancy and abortion, and menstrual health and wellbeing.
The report, which can be read here, says “it is not good enough for pupils that 44 per cent of all schools/centres report that they are delivering the topic of consent to a small extent or not at all”.
Sex education: teachers ‘fear parent objections’
Teachers report having “limited confidence and insufficient specialist knowledge and skills in the teaching of the more sensitive topics”, according to the research. Teachers also have “fear of parental objections”, and “insufficient opportunities for continuing professional learning and development”, while there are “challenges presented by a teacher’s personal background, experiences and beliefs”.
Many post-primary pupils also told the ETI that “teachers regularly skip teaching certain sensitive subjects”.
One pupil told the inspectors that “I personally don’t believe our school is inclusive to personal developments that don’t fit their ideologies” and that “sexuality education has never been discussed other than in religious studies” in their school.
Another pupil said that in their school RSE was “only for heterosexuals”, while a secondary student said: “The school does not inform young girls about sex or periods. We have had to figure it out on our own because parents think the school will teach them this stuff.”
The report concludes: “There is a risk that some pupils in NI could leave school without a clear, unbiased knowledge and understanding of important concepts such as consent, healthy relationships, and gender identity. It is clear from the questionnaire responses that pupils want impartial information and education on these sensitive areas which is integrated and reinforced throughout the curriculum and a school/centre culture based on respect and personal responsibility.”
It adds that key issues must be addressed “as a matter of urgency” to ensure that all children and young people are equipped to keep themselves safe in line with the overarching aim of the NI curriculum to “empower young people to achieve their potential and to make informed and responsible decisions throughout their lives”.
