The following article appeared in the Rochdale Observer Newspaper highlighting the Rochdale Campaign by the Muslim Community on the SRE issue.A CAMPAIGN has been launched against government plans to introduce sex and relationship education to primary school children as young as five.
Majed Iqbal, a Rochdale Muslim community activist, has set up a Facebook group and created a campaign video, which can be seen on the internet video site YouTube, to challenge the plans and he is urging both Muslim and non-Muslim parents to join.
He believes the onus is on parents to teach children about sex and not teachers.
The department for children, schools and families announced plans last year to make sex education and lessons about the dangers of drugs and alcoholcompulsory in primary and secondary schools under government moves to protect young people from pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and substance abuse.
Under the proposals, which are still in the consultation process and are unlikely to come into force until next year, children will learn to talk about peer pressure and their feelings, in sex and relationship education (SRE) lessons.
They will learn the names of body parts and about animal reproduction.
Between the age of eight and 11 they will be taught about the biological aspects of sex.
Mr Iqbal, who says he hopes to ‘mobilise’ women to take an added interest in their children’s education, wants to engage with religious institutions such as mosques and churches to challenge the social values presented in the studies.
He will also be posting leaflets in English, Urdu and Bangla throughout Rochdale.
He said: "This is an issue that affects parents throughout Rochdale and the rest of the UK.
"We believe the teaching of SRE in schools is inappropriate, both in terms of the philosophy which underpins the way it is approached and the resources used.
"There is a misguided belief that children will engage in sexual relations, all of the solutions look at making this behaviour ‘safe’ rather than challenging the lack of values which make this behaviour acceptable."
He added: "Children do not need information, they need to be taught what is right and wrong.
"They need to be shown and taught what the boundaries of acceptable behaviour are."
Mr Iqbal, who is inviting people to get involved via his blog www.majedsblog.wordpress.com, will also be holding awareness sessions so parents can understand SRE classes.
He said: "Though the campaign has a Muslim focus it does not mean that the wider community cannot get involved.
"These are concerns for all parents and we want to work with everybody to get the message to the government that this proposal is not welcome."
Terry Piggott, Rochdale’s executive director of children’s services, said all primary schools are required to have a policy that outlines the provision of SRE but each school creates its own individual programme.
The broader personal, social and health education and citizenship, including SRE – which includes learning about gender differences, relationships and feelings – would be made compulsory for the first time under the government proposals.
He said: "Effective and early PSHE lays vital foundations for sex and relationships education (SRE) in the future, because it involves the development of the personal and social skills necessary for positive relationships."
He added: "Rochdale primary schools recognise the vital role they play in building on the learning established within the home and early years settings and in laying the foundations for more detailed SRE later on in secondary school.
"Parents and carers who have concerns should contact their child’s school if they need further detail with regards to this aspect of the curriculum."
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