This text was initially promised by former minister Pap Ndiaye for the start of the 2024 school year. It is the subject of an offensive from conservative circles.
The proposed sex life education program which must soon be formalized “as it stands, it is not acceptable”declared Minister Delegate for Academic Success Alexandre Portier in the Senate on Wednesday. Initially promised in 2023 by the former Minister of Education Pap Ndiaye for the start of the 2024 school year, this project, which is the subject of an offensive from conservative circles, must be presented to trade union organizations in December.
This text, the current version of which is not yet final, has been the subject of consultations since the spring. “I tell you both as an elected official, but also like many here as a father, this program, as it stands, is not acceptable and it must be reviewed”affirmed Alexandre Portier during questions to the government in the Senate.
Indicating having “three important reservations” on the current version of the project, the delegate minister first assured that he “would personally commit to ensuring that the gender theory does not find its place in our schools, because it should not have its place there”. “Second, activism has no place in our schools either. And I want very strict supervision of all the stakeholders who will have to bring these subjects to our establishments”he continued. “Thirdly, I also want better consideration of the development of our students. Because all the concepts that must be discussed in these subjects must obviously be based on the development of our students” and be “appropriate”.
“Progressive” and “sequenced”
Education Minister Anne Genetet promised last week that the new program would be very “progressive” et “sequence” against a backdrop of controversies on the subject. She assured that she had taken “the time it took to reread the program very carefully”which according to her is “very complete”. The minister and her delegate minister “are aligned”even if Alexandre Portier expresses it in a different way, those around Anne Genetet were assured. “This is why the ministry has made changes to the program which will be presented in mid-December to the CSE” (Higher Education Council, consultative body).
The term “gender identity”which came up several times in the previous version of the text, will not appear in the final version, it was clarified.
