France's Sex Education Program Faces Renewed Controversy and Implementation Challenges

Despite being mandatory since 2001, less than 15% of French students receive the required annual sex education sessions, as political and cultural opposition intensifies.

France's sex education curriculum, mandated by law since 2001, requires three sessions annually for students from primary school to high school, but compliance remains alarmingly low.
A new program, set to be introduced in 2024, has reignited debates, with conservative groups opposing its content and framing it as promoting controversial ideologies like 'gender theory.'
Experts and educators stress the importance of these lessons to address rising issues such as misinformation from pornography and increasing rates of STIs and unplanned pregnancies among youth.
Supporters of the program argue that schools play a critical role in educating children on consent, equality, and respect, particularly when many parents feel unprepared to address these topics themselves.
The lack of teacher training, resource allocation, and political will has hindered the program's full implementation, prompting calls for stronger government action to enforce the law.