Gender identity, homophobia and intersexuality… what does the sexuality education program published this Thursday contain ?

The text provides in particular for the reaffirmation of the role of social and health personnel, such as school nurses. MAXPPP

The program of education on emotional and relational life and sexuality, contested for several months by a part of the right and conservative circles, was published on February 6, 2025 to be implemented from the start of the school year in September 2025.

After several setbacks related to changes in government, this program had passed a key milestone last week for its future publication with the vote of a consultative body of National Education, the Higher Council of Education (CSE), which voted with 60 votes for and 0 against. Nearly 150 amendments had been debated during the CSE.

A “balanced program”

The former Minister of Education Pap Ndiaye had contacted the Higher Council of Programs in June 2023 so that it could develop a program specifying “the themes and concepts that should be covered” for each level of education. This program has been the subject of consultations since March.

The final version published on Thursday was developed with “the idea of ​​having a balanced program, which is based on scientific expertise in the broad sense of the term and which has been the subject of consultation that has lasted over time and has made it possible to address all the subjects”, stressed the Ministry of Education, during a press briefing.

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The text provides in particular for the reaffirmation of the role of social and health personnel, such as school nurses.

A training seminar for academic managers and referents will be held at the beginning of March. They will be followed by workshops broken down by academy and will be “intended for two or three people per district, one per middle school and high school”.

A support booklet “linked to disciplinary teachings”, will soon be published for teachers. A two-day enhanced training course will also be available for any volunteer in each academy, according to the ministry.

What does the program contain?

This program, the first developed on this sensitive subject, provides for three annual sessions in all schools, middle schools and high schools, both public and private under contract, as theoretically required by law since 2001. But these sessions on education in emotional, relational and sexual life (Evars) are rarely carried out in practice.

The text provides for learning in two stages: a “education in emotional and relational life” for nursery school and elementary school, and a “education in emotional and relational life and sexuality” for middle and high school.

Highly criticized by the right and the far right, the notion of gender identity will be discussed from the 3rd grade. The previous version of the program proposed it in the second grade. Homophobia will also be addressed during the last year of middle school, unlike intersexuality, which will be a subject from the 4th grade.

The parents of students will be “informed of the annual learning objectives of this education”, the text specifies.