The Junior Cert Cycle curriculum is to get a revamp to include the issues of pornography, consent and gender stereotyping.
A review of the exam conducted by the Department of Education which found it was “heavily concerned” with aspects of Ireland’s relationships and sexuality programme.
Minister for Education Norma Foley has described the proposed revamp as “a step in the right direction” and as the catalyst to empowering students to cope with life in the 21st century.
Ms Foley told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland that the current syllabus was 20 years old and children now lived in a different world.
It was important that students be given the tools to help them cope with “this complex world”, she added.
Every school irrespective of their ethos will have to deliver the revamped version of the subject.
The updated curriculum is set to deal with pornography, with reference to safe use of the internet and the sharing of sexual images online. It will also focus on gender stereotyping and consent.
A draft review of Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) will be published today as part of the consultative process.
