New Brunswick’s education minister says his department is reviewing the province’s sex education curriculum.
Bill Hogan was asked about the review during an education announcement in Saint John on Wednesday.
Hogan told reporters that his department is not necessarily looking to make any changes to what is currently being taught.
“I don’t think we plan on revising. We’re looking at the curriculum from an age developmental point of view,” said Hogan.
“The curriculum itself is really not a big issue. We do plan on providing parents the choice as to whether or not they’d like their children to participate in that component of personal wellness, but it’s the other stuff that gets added in that creates the greatest angst with parents.
Hogan did not elaborate on what he meant by the “other stuff” that is being added.
The minister was asked what the options are currently for parents who do not want their kids participating in sex education.
Hogan said he would recommend that they speak with the school’s administration and work out a plan so everyone is happy.
“We wouldn’t want students to miss out on a whole day of education because of a half-hour class,” he said.
Hogan said it is his understanding the curriculum is age-appropriate as it is, but his department is “just going to verify that’s the case.”
“The curriculum itself is — I don’t want to say is benign — but it deals with broad topics,” he said.
The minister did not provide a timeline for when the review would be completed.
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