France is set to implement new lessons on gender equality and consent in public and private schools, starting as young as four. The initiative aims to tackle sexual violence and promote respect in relationships.
French Education Minister Elisabeth Borne has announced a comprehensive overhaul of the sex education syllabus, emphasising the importance of teaching young people about relationships, consent, and gender identity.
“Education about love, about relationships and sexuality is absolutely essential,” Borne told broadcaster France Inter.
The revised curriculum is scheduled to roll out after the summer holidays. It will require schools to conduct three sex education sessions per year at the primary, middle, and secondary levels.
According to Hear Her Stories, lessons for four-year-olds will introduce scientific terms for genitalia and introduce discussions on equality and consent in an age-appropriate manner. Borne reassured that all content would be tailored to suit the maturity of students, incorporating interactive activities like role-play. For example, young children may practise asking, “Can I hold your hand?” to understand that it is acceptable to say “no”.
For older students, the syllabus will expand to include more nuanced discussions. By age 13, pupils will explore the distinctions between biological sex, gender, and sexual orientation. At 14, lessons will cover the complexities of sexuality, including aspects of pleasure, love, and reproduction. By 16, students will examine biological differences between men and women while also discussing how these differences do not dictate self-expression, roles, or behaviours.
The new programme also reassures parents that school-based sex education will not replace familial discussions on these topics. The curriculum has been submitted to France’s Higher Education Council for approval.
This initiative marks a significant step in France’s ongoing efforts to foster gender equality and combat gender-based violence through education.