Students need an updated SPHE curriculum so they don’t learn about sex and relationships solely through social media. 

That’s according to Active Consent Programme Co-Lead Siobhan O’Higgins amid debate over the new upcoming SPHE curriculum. 

Leaflets have been circulated around Dublin making a number of misleading claims about the curriculum. 

Ms O’Higgins said “so much has happened in the last 10 years”, meaning a new curriculum is needed. 

“We now have mobile phones where our young people are learning all sorts of things that we have no control over,” she told The Hard Shoulder. 

“It's not just about sex education, it's about everything - what you eat, exercise, how you feel, your mental health, your sexual health, everything as you move from being a child to being an adult.” 

The current curriculum has too much focus on reproduction, according to Ms O’Higgins. 

“It doesn't actually talk about the emotions, of becoming intimate with someone else or how you form a relationship, or what to do if a relationship breaks down,” she said.

'Sex is everywhere'

The new curriculum will cover these issues and will also address media literacy, including around sexual images young people may find online. 

“We have sexual media in everything,” Ms O’Higgins said. 

“It's in the songs. It's in the adverts. It's on TikTok. It's not just about pornography, sex is everywhere. 

“Our young people are being bombarded with sexualised images and ideas of how to express their sexuality and how to be how to be a man how to be a woman how to be anything in between, rather than being a child.” 

'Concerns'

Aontú Education Spokesperson Eric Nelligan said the “vast majority” of the new SPHE curriculum is “excellent work”, including issues such as mental health, toxic relationships and consent. 

“They need to know about being able to stand up for themselves and doing what they want and doing what's right for them and not being peer pressured,” he said. 

Despite that, Mr Nelligan said there are “concerns” over elements surrounding gender and sexuality. 

“One example I can give is contributor to the process made the point that discussing a pornographic script may be appropriate,” he said. 

“Some people might have concerns about us depending on what the content of the script will be.” 

He said it’s important content in the book doesn’t come from “biased sources”. 

“We don’t want sources that push a certain point or certain ideology,” he said. 

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