Sex education in schools: primary, secondary, high school… What program for children ?

The program for education in emotional, relational and sexual life should be presented in mid-December. We do not yet know its exact composition, but it should be structured into three distinct themes, adapted to the age of the children.

Since 2001, every child in school must receive at least three sessions of sex education. However, according to the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE), “less than 15% of students benefit from all three sessions”. An observation made by the former Minister of National Education, Pap Ndiaye, who promised, in June 2023, the development of a school program on sex education emotional life and sexuality. A mission entrusted to the Higher Council of Programs, which it has charged to develop “for each level of education (…) the themes and concepts that should be addressed”.

A version of this program, Evars, was consulted by our colleagues at BFMTV, highlighting the three themes around which it should be structured: “Knowing yourself, living and growing with your body”, “meeting others and building relationships with them, “to flourish” and “to find one's place in society”.

What concepts are covered in kindergarten ?

The discourse around these three axes will have to be adapted to the age of the students. For the youngest, in kindergarten, the non-definitive program provides for the consideration of the body, feelings, emotions, respect for privacy and equality between girls and boys. Children will learn to name the different parts of their body, to become aware of privacy, to accept or refuse or equality between girls and boys. This should be organized around practical situations, such as: “Can I sit next to you”?, or “Is this activity reserved for girls or boys”?.

After four years, the program aims to teach children to identify trusted adults and to call on them in case of danger. They should also learn to identify those situations where they are not safe and to differentiate between different types of families, with two moms, two dads, a dad and a mom together or separately, just a mom or just a dad…

The program for children in elementary school

&From CP onwards, children will learn more concrete notions of relationships with others. They should be educated on the more precise and scientific vocabulary of their bodies and their emotions. They should also be made aware of their self-esteem and their rights.

Puberty should be addressed starting in the fourth grade, when children are generally between the ages of 8 and 10. The non-definitive curriculum expects children to learn how their bodies work and why they change during adolescence, with the appearance of body hair, boys' voices becoming deeper, girls' periods starting, etc. They should also learn to spot situations of harassment or understand stereotypes to combat discrimination, in particular by reading texts that will allow them to identify inequalities.

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In CM2, children should learn to identify and protect themselves from sexist and sexual violence as well as harassment on social networks. The Minister of National Education points out that today “one in two boys 11-year-olds have already looked at pornographic sites,” to get answers to the questions they have. “That's what we want to fight,” she explains.

What does the college curriculum provide ?

Sexuality is a topic that should be introduced in middle school, in order to help adolescents “take ownership” of the changes they are experiencing and “gradually understand” the concept of sexuality. The intervention of a doctor during these sessions could be part of the program. It would also be a question of “finding one's place within a group without denying one's own feelings, respecting others and being respected”. Sexual orientation would be addressed from the 6th grade.

The “complex reality” of sexuality should be addressed in 4th grade, with the notions of love, reproduction, pleasure but also health. sexual, with sexually transmitted infections, menstrual disorders… The influence of social networks on relationships should also be addressed.

Between the ages of 14 and 15, when students are in 3rd grade, the sessions should allow them to “question the links between happiness, “emotion and sexuality”, while talking about “problematic situations”, sexual violence and discrimination. The innocence of the victims should also be a pillar of these sessions.

What concepts in high school ?

When they arrive at high school, some students are already sexually active. “The reflective and critical dimension is deepened,” predicts the text, which invites “the development of more precise or more complete knowledge.” The role of social networks would still be part of the topics covered during the sessions. Biological differences would also be taken up, in particular the notion of pleasure and the role of the clitoris. In the first year, students will learn to “develop their ability to manage their impulses, their emotions and to make responsible choices.” Finally, in the final year, young adults should be able to “understand sexuality” in a “responsible” manner.

A text that is being debated in the government

But such a draft program has provoked the anger of certain conservative branches of the government and certain unions. On November 27, the Minister Delegate for Academic Success and Vocational Education, Alexandre Portier, deemed the program “unacceptable in its current state,” assuring that it defended “gender theory.” A statement to to which Minister Genetet responded by assuring that it was a “balanced, very progressive program, which takes into account the maturity and age of each person” and that “gender theory does not exist, nor does it exist in the program”.