The emotional, relational and sexual life education program must 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 the 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 education for emotional life and sexuality. A mission entrusted to the Higher Program Council, which it has charged with developing “for each level of education (…) the themes and concepts which must be addressed”.
A version of this program, Evars, was able to be consulted by our colleagues at BFMTV, highlighting the three themes around which it should revolve: “Knowing yourself, living and growing with your body”, “meeting others and building relationships with them, flourishing there” and “finding your place in society.”
What concepts are covered in kindergarten?
The discourse around these three axes must be adapted to the age of the students. For the youngest, in kindergarten, the non-definitive program provides for 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 only for girls or boys?”.
After four years, the program aims to teach children to identify trusted adults and call on them in times of danger. They should also learn to identify these situations where they are not safe and to differentiate between different forms of families, with two moms, two dads, a dad and a mom together or separated, just one mom or just one dad…
The program for elementary children
From CP onwards, children will learn more concrete notions of relating to 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 approached from fourth grade, where children are generally between 8 and 10 years old. The non-definitive program provides that children learn how their body works and why it changes during adolescence, with the appearance of body hair, the voice of boys becoming deeper, the appearance of menstruation in girls… They should also learn to spot situations of harassment or understand stereotypes to combat discrimination, in particular through reading texts which will allow them to identify inequalities.
In CM2, children should learn to spot and protect themselves from gender-based and sexual violence as well as harassment on social media. The Minister of National Education recalls that today “one in two boys at the age of 11 have already consulted pornographic sites” to get answers to the questions they ask themselves. “This is what we want to fight,” she explains.
What does the college program include?
Sexuality is a subject that should appear in middle school, in order to help adolescents to “own” the changes they are experiencing and “gradually understand” the notion of sexuality. The intervention of a doctor during these sessions could be part of the program. It would also be about “finding your place within a group without denying your 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 sexual health, with sexually transmitted infections, menstrual disorders… The influence of social networks about relationships should also be addressed.
Between 14 and 15 years old, 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, students are already sexually active. “The reflective and critical dimension is deepened”, provides the text, which invites “the development of more precise or more complete knowledge”. The role of social networks would always be part of the topics discussed during the sessions. Biological differences would also be taken up, including the notion of pleasure and the role of the clitoris. In first grade, students will learn to “develop their ability to manage their impulses, their emotions and to make responsible choices.” Finally, in final year, young adults should be able to “approach sexuality” in a “responsible” manner.
A text that is causing debate in the government
But such a proposed program has angered some conservative branches of government and some unions. On November 27, the Minister Delegate in charge of academic success and vocational education Alexandre Portier judged that the program was “not acceptable as it stands”, ensuring that it defended “gender theory”. A statement to which Minister Genetet reacted 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 does not exist, it does not exist in the program either.