French Education Ministry to Review New Sexual Education Curriculum by End of January

Minister Elisabeth Borne announces plans to present the updated program to the Education Council, despite opposition from conservative groups.

The updated sexual education program, known as EVARS, is set to be reviewed by the Conseil Supérieur de l'Éducation (CSE) by the end of January, a critical step before implementation in the next school year.
Sexual education has been mandatory in French schools since 2001, but compliance with the requirement of three annual sessions has been inconsistent.
Conservative politicians and groups have criticized the proposed curriculum, accusing it of promoting 'woke ideology' and incorporating concepts of 'gender identity.'
The program's initial presentation, scheduled for December 2024, was postponed due to the previous government's decisions, delaying its rollout.
Minister Borne has expressed openness to further dialogue with stakeholders while managing other challenges in her new role, including controversies from her recent visit to Mayotte.