Daily Times

RSE could be positively effective when it is taught by trained professionals in regular sessions, and if it delivers age-appropriate content, is inclusive of different sexual and gender identities, is embedded into school policy, and involves the input of young people and their families

In 2020 Sex education will be a compulsory subject for all students from the age of 4 to the age of 11 in England. The stakeholders have suggested that well-taught RSE (Relationship and Sex education) can improve public health, address inequalities, promote healthy relationships, and improve awareness of the risks posed by using digital technology. Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) can increase knowledge about sexual risk, can lead to an increase in the use of contraceptives, and reduce young people’s number of sexual partners. There are a few high-quality studies on how RSE effects the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, available evidence suggests that RSE does not reduce STI rates among young people. Evidence shows that RSE can increase young people’s knowledge about, and change attitudes towards, sexual abuse and partner violence.

The role of spreading awareness of the risks of sharing nude images and using pornography has not yet been evaluated. RSE could be positively effective when it is taught by trained professionals in regular sessions, and if it delivers age-appropriate content, is inclusive of different sexual and gender identities, is embedded into school policy, and involves the input of young people and their families. The awareness of consent, a conversation about what exactly consent is, for both girls and boys, has been much-needed for a  long time — but in the age of #MeToo, it really could not be more timely. The government says young people will be taught the concepts of consent and how to deal with peer pressure both on and offline. By the end of secondary school, pupils should know that they have a choice to delay sex or enjoy intimacy without sex, and that there are a range of strategies for identifying and managing sexual pressures. The government adds that pupils should understand strategies to resist the pressure or not put pressure on someone else, and should recognize the signs of healthy relationships. But on the other side within the Muslim community specifically at the large and other religious communities as well consider RSE an assault by the government on the family life because parents do not have the right to choose in this regard, the state has made it compulsory for students. Muslim psychologists called it evil social engineering to split up the children and parents, because parents are losing parental rights and the state is planting its own indoctrination.

According to the Muslim community RSE is against chastity, self-restraint and the family life of Muslims. Traditional marriages are being pushed away. United Nations is pushing to make sex education compulsory worldwide. There are three main areas of concern by Muslim Psychologists; to teach a four years old about pornography is like a planting a seed in a very young and tender mind to sexualize themselves at a young age. And syllabus books that are maintained with cartoon pornography would destroy the child’s innocence and the Muslim community considers it a war against morality. Many schools are already using these textbooks and materials teaching kids these new curriculum and new methods.

Muslims scholars and psychologists say that Muslim identity and chastity of Muslims is at large in danger because of these new programs!

The writer is a journalist based in Belgium and is a, writer, teacher, translator, human activist, focusing on human rights, gender equality and peace

Published in Daily Times, December 20^th2018.