Education Minister Graham Cregeen has defended the involvement of religious organisations in the delivery of sex education in schools.

In Tynwald last week Dr Alex Allinson (Ramsey) expressed concern at the about the way sex education is delivered.

He said: ’If we are going to effectively combat domestic violence and sexual crime, early comprehensive sex and relationship education for boys and girls is essential.

’This is ideally provided by impartial and non-judgemental teachers, not necessarily familiar to pupils, rather than schools sometimes relying on faith-based groups based in that same local community, teaching a curriculum that may not be designed by educationalists.’

Mr Cregeen said: ’Scripture Union delivers Love Life, but with no religion in it. It consists of approximately six sessions for year 10. It includes delaying sex and having stable relationships.

’When there are any outside speakers, they are encouraged to make a written agreement with the school on content and delivery and a member of staff is always in the room.’

Tim Baker (Ayre and Michael) said the programme had been well-received in schools.

Earlier Mr Cregeen outlined how sex and relationships education was delivered in both primary and secondary schools through the personal, social and health education (PSHE) programmes.

He added it also appeared in ’other aspects of taught curriculum such as in science and RE’.

At primary level, the teaching was scheduled at ’developmental appropriate’ stages to enable young people to ’manage change, including puberty and transition’.

The secondary school programme includes positive relationships, reproduction and sexual health.

’In both RE and PSHE in particular, there are discussions about parenthood and the consequences of unintended teenage pregnancy, and the range of options available.’

Former secondary school teacher Jason Moorhouse (Arbory, Castletown and Malew) said he had delivered sex education ’despite receiving no specific training’. He asked whether a non-specialist teacher was ’really best-placed to deliver such material in 2017 and beyond’.

Mr Cregeen said some students responded better to a member of staff they knew already.

’I think we have to have a balanced area where you have some of the staff that the students know and those from outside with specific knowledge,’ the minister added.

Daphne Caine (Garff) said the availability of pornography was ’influencing many teenagers’ ideas of what sex should be like, something that does not resemble reality and something that should be countered by open discussions in the school environment as part of a secular educational programme about sex and relationships’.