Classification Office (New Zealand)

• Relationship and sexuality education has, yet again, become a political talking point ahead of this year’s election.
• As contentious as the topic can be, many parents want to work with schools to educate their children about relationships and sexuality.

From sex to sexuality education

• Read more:
  Five important things you should have learned in sex ed – but probably didn't

  In 1999, sex education became sexuality education.

• A 2015 guide from the Ministry of Education said sexuality education should take a “positive view of sexual development as a natural part of growing up”.
• Since then, the curriculum has evolved and broadened further – with sexuality education becoming relationships and sexuality education (RSE).

The contested ground of sexuality education

• In New Zealand, conservative and religious lobby groups, as well as some media, frame parents and schools in opposition to each other over who is the “best” provider of sexuality education.
• Sex education needs to address this

  But the parents who participated in my small group interviews were, in fact, supportive of relationship and sexuality education in schools.

• These parents also understood how important it was to ensure young people have multiple sources of sexuality education – both at home and in the classroom.
• While supportive of sexuality education in schools, parents wanted schools to consult more so parents could understand what was being taught.
• A 2018 Education Review Office report found only 25% of schools were rated “good” at connecting with their communities on the relationships and sexuality curriculum.

What young people want

• In the absence of open discussions at home on relationships and sexuality, friends or pornography become the default sex educator.
• In a complex world, relationships and sexuality education aims to give young people the critical skills to navigate the uncertainty around them.
• But this can only happen after listening to the voices of young people.