The approval of the Statutory
Instrument to bring in the Government’s proposals for a new Relationships and
Sex Education curriculum in schools is a topic that has captured the attention
of many parents in St Austell and Newquay, some of whom have written to me to
express their concerns.
Parents are better placed than the
State to educate their children on matters of sex, relationships and gender
orientation in a wholesome and appropriate manner. Giving them the ability to
request to opt out, as outlined in current proposals, is not the same as
granting them the full right to opt out.
Furthermore, pupils in the last year
of secondary education will be compelled to take part in the relationships and
sex education, effectively limiting their parent’s rights to opt out.
This is an issue that I have pressed
ministers on at a recent parliamentary debate by asking the Secretary of State
for Education for an assurance that there is no intention in the new guidelines
to usurp or undermine the rights and responsibilities of parents to educate
their children in these matters, if that is what they choose to do.
I was glad to learn from the Minister
that he recognises what schools do ought to complement what parents and that
parents are in many ways the primary educators in do when it comes to teaching
our children about matters to do with relationships.
While I fully appreciate good
intentions of the government in introducing these new guidelines, because of my
concerns about the potential erosion of the parent’s rights to decide what is
best for their children I did not support the government’s proposals on
Wednesday.
Though the proposals are now going to
be implemented in schools, I will continue to press the Government on ensuring
that the right of parents to decide what is best for their children is
appropriately safeguarded, especially in matters of sex and relationships
education.
