New guidelines by the New Zealand government aimed at removing gender ideology from curriculums have come under fire from a teacher’s union that does not believe any change is necessary.
The National Party’s coalition partner NZ First campaigned on removing sexuality and gender-based guidelines, implemented in 2020 by the former Labour-led government, and associate Education Minister Tracey Martin.
The guidelines, “Relationships and Sexuality Education: A Guide for Teachers, Leaders, and Boards of Trustees,” focuses on consensual, healthy, and respectful relationships and, over two volumes, cover Years 1-8 and Years 9-13.
The guide is published under the Ministry of Education’s Health and Physical Education curriculum and is not compulsory.
During the 2023 election campaign, NZ First leader Winston Peters was vocal in his opposition to what he called “woke ideology” in schools, calling for a refocus on academic achievement.
“We’re very worried that they seem to think there’s something that needs to be changed. And we’re not seeing what they’re trying to fix at this stage. We don’t understand why they need to do this,” he told RNZ.
Mr. Potter said pressure was being applied and a “lot of conspiracy-based thinking” from certain parts of the community was behind the movement to change the current curriculum.
“A lot of it is very conspiracy-based thinking and lots of claims about what schools are supposed to be doing that they just aren’t. Some very untrue statements being made about what children are being taught. So we are wondering, who are they pandering to with this kind of move?” he said.
Current Prime Minister Christopher Luxon commented to RNZ in December that he wanted a curriculum that included the views of parents and education specialists;
“We want a well-defined curriculum agreed to by experts that makes sure that the content is age-appropriate, that parents have been consulted, and importantly that parents have an ability to withdraw from the education as well.”
Mr. Luxon, who identifies as a socially conservative evangelical Christian, has said he favours taking sex education out of the hands of teachers, and to instead administered by parents at home.
The opposition Labour Party’s education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said it was counterproductive to remove guidelines and could put students at risk.
“We already know that in that area, that young people are facing some serious challenges. There’s way more access to pornography through the internet now than what has ever happened before. And young people get their understanding of sex sometimes, sadly, from those sources,” she told RNZ.
The tri-party government’s 100-day plan, which aims to expediently action 49 areas of policy concern, does not include the proposed changes to sex education.
Mr. Potter said clarity on what changes and what shape the new policy will take is required.
“We will be expecting a grown-up conversation around what is needed. We want to make sure that politicians don’t interfere with the curriculum where they don’t belong. And what we‘ll be looking to see is that there’ll be supporting professionals and developing an inclusive education system for all children.”
