Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Education and Welsh Language – in the Senedd at 2:24 pm on 21 September 2022.
Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, I stood here back in 2021 when I first came to this Senedd, the last Senedd, and whilst on education committee, I came late to the review, but I listened to the evidence and believed the Government when they said they wanted to change relationships and sexuality education, which was desperately needed, for the better. I relayed my own experience of RSE, which, alongside many others', highlighted the real need for change in this area. It was strongly agreed by all that what was delivered needed be factual and, most importantly, age appropriate. I even spoke on the issue of RSE within weeks of my return and, back then, I said
'I was at first...sceptical and uncomfortable with the idea of my 10-year-old son being taught RSE at that sort of level. But having taken the evidence and listened to people throughout the committee process of scrutinising this, I am now comfortable with what my son would potentially be taught.'
Years down the line, it would appear my original concerns have now come to fruition. What we are seeing is children and young people that are being exposed to material that's not age-appropriate and is already having a negative impact and effect on our young people. Perhaps the RSE code is too flexible, Minister, too open to differing delivery and focus per school across Wales. Minister, you have the opportunity to streamline the guidance to protect and educate our children with fact and information that does, as it was originally intended to do, provide our children with the information that they need to navigate their way through confusing times and developing into an adult and all that goes with that. Do you not agree, Minister, that the guidance perhaps is too loose and, to date, is not ensuring that safe, fact-based information as promised to our young people to ensure fulfilling and safe relationships is, in fact, being delivered?