"Children Shouldn't Be Taught Gender Ideologies In Schools": Rishi Sunak (image@RishiSunak)

UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak said children should not be taught gender ideology in schools. He made the remark through his X post. Critics commented that Sunak is going full ‘reform mode’ right ahead of the election.

Our children shouldn’t be taught gender ideology in schools.

— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) June 28, 2024

In May this year, the government released a draft guidance that schools in England “should teach the facts about biological sex and not use any materials that present contested views as fact, including the view that gender is a spectrum”.

Parents would have a right to know if their child wants to be treated as the opposite sex, and schools have to involve parents in decisions about their children, said the Conservative manifesto.

The tory ministers have been accused of using school pupils as “a political football” over plans to crack down on “explicit” sex education lessons. Reportedly, the guidance say that children should not be given any form of sex education in primary school until Year 5, when lessons should be limited to the basic facts of conception and birth. Explicit discussions of sexual acts – including conversations about contraception, sexually transmitted infections and abortion – should not take place until Year 9.

However, unlike Labour party and Lib Dems (Liberal Democrats), the Conservative party did not promise to ban conversion therapy, which attempts to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

Read also: Is There A Link Between Rishi Sunak And Israel Which Is Not Bilateral?

Sunak told BBC that the new guidance would ensure children were not “exposed to disturbing content”.

Secondary-school students will learn about protected characteristics, such as sexual orientation and gender reassignment, as per the UK government’s plan. The government source told BBC about planning to ban sex education.

Sunk has introduced a number of reforms during the past 18 months since becoming the Prime Minister. During a Conservative Party Conference in Manchester last October, he said the United Kingdom would be smoke-free by the year 2030. He said children turning of 14 or younger last year should not be sold cigarettes in their lifetime. He said he is aiming for a “cigarette free generation”.

In January 2024, his government announced that foreign students “cannot bring family members to the UK” anymore.

In February, he shared a video message voicing new government policy to ban mobile phones in classrooms. The new mandate was issued on February 19, by prohibiting mobile phones in schools across Britain. He said the move is for making learning environment safer and more focused.

Read also: Rishi Sunak’s Minimum Income Requirement Policy For Family Visa Confronts Court Challenge

In April, during a speech on welfare reform, Sunak called an end to the “sick note culture” of Britain which is commonly known as “fit notes”. According to Sunak, “fully half” of the individuals are claiming they have depression and anxiety. He called his plan to reform the welfare system a “moral mission”.

Last month, his policy to increase the minimum income requirement (MIR), which demanded the visa applicants to earn a minimum of 29,000 euro annually to bring their family to the country, has been challenged in the UK High Court, with a petition for a judicial review filed by the pressure group Reunite Families UK (RFUK). The application challenged the policy claiming that the move is against the UN convention on the rights of the child, as  the policy would separate family apart and discriminate against children, women and minorities.