Sex education in Ireland is getting a revamp.
From September, students in the junior cycle will be taught about consent, relationships, the effects of pornography on sexual expectations and LGBTQ issues as part of the updated Social, Personal and Health Education curriculum (SPHE).
While the proposed changes to the SPHE syllabus are largely welcomed, there is still some pushback, specifically on issues relating to gender identity and porn literacy.
In this episode of In the News, we hear from education editor Carl O’Brien, who explains what to expect from the new syllabus, what impact the objections have had so far and why some schools might opt out of teaching it.
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We also hear from Eoghan Cleary, a secondary school teacher in Greystones, Co Wicklow who delivers sex education and porn literacy classes to his students.
The wellbeing programs run by Cleary, teach students about consent, gender identity, toxic masculinity and “how to consume porn in a critical manner”.
Speaking about the new SPHE curriculum, Cleary says, “it’s great that porn is going to be addressed, but it’s essential that the people addressing it are trained adequately”.
“SPHE is becoming one of the most essential courses in young people’s lives and yet no teacher qualifies in it”.
Presenter: Aideen Finnegan. Producer: Suzanne Brennan.
