The open letter, released on Tuesday and co-signed by 26 mental health and rainbow organisations, opposes the Government’s plans to remove the guidelines. The letter will be available online for public signatures until Pink Shirt Day on May 17 – a day which focuses on reducing bullying by celebrating diversity.
It will be sent to Education Minister Erica Stanford the week following.
The letter is intended to remind Stanford and the Government the RSE guidelines were the result of in-depth consultation with teachers, students and parents.
It added the content was staged at age-appropriate levels and is not mandatory, meaning parents and caregivers retain their right to withdraw their children from sexuality education in general if they wish.
Stanford told Newshub on Wednesday she appreciates the concerns raised.
“I agree that all children deserve to feel included, safe and respected at school,” she said in a statement, adding the Coalition Government would review and replace the current guidelines in its first term.
“It is important to note that these are only guidelines and schools are currently free to use them (or not) as they choose. The legal requirements for school boards are set out in the Education and Training Act 2020 and require schools to consult with their community every two years on their health curriculum (including what they include under RSE).
“Under the Act, schools must inform the school community about the content of the health curriculum; and ascertain the wishes of the school community regarding the way in which the health curriculum should be implemented given the views, beliefs, and customs of the members of that community; and determine, in broad terms, the health education needs of the students at the school.”
Stanford has also previously told AM that there’s been huge anxiety from parents and school communities about the age appropriateness of the content.