There’s a growing concern on the part of the Near North District School Board that the Ministry of Education will go back to the 1998 sex-education curriculum.
Dave Thompson, the chair of the board, says that would be a mistake.
“1998 is a different century,” Thompson told Moose News.
“The internet, consent and gender issues are completely different back then to now. 1998is not relevant to today’s students and health issues that are going on.”
Thompson says school boards prefer that the Ministry of Education uses 2015 as the start of the sex-ed curriculum.
As for when the government consultations begin on the curriculum, Thompson says they need to get underway immediately.
He says the start of the next school is a month away and educators need to know what form sex education will take.
Thompson also suggested that perhaps municipal councils should get involved in the issue.
He says figures from the local health unit show a high rate of teenage pregnancies in the region.
Thompson says that usually translate into more social housing, health and welfare costs.
“This is everyone’s concern,” he said.
“It’s not just a school board or Ministry of Education matter, it’s also a municipal issue.”
Thompson says the Near North board is asking residents to call their local MPP and voice any concerns they have over the sex-education process to date.
Thompson also says the Near North board has said its staff will continue to discuss relevant issues like gender and consent based on the 2015 curriculum.
