A leading voice in Catholic education has welcomed the dropping of references to gender being “experienced along a spectrum” from the new Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum following consultation with the public. SPHE includes Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE).

The idea is part of a radical theory that says a person’s ‘gender’ has no necessary connection with their biological sex.

CEO of the Catholic Education Partnership Alan Hynes told The Irish Catholic that they’re “glad to see that the final draft reflects some of our concerns and observations” regarding the proposals for the new curriculum.

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) agreed to change a “learning outcome” in a draft for the new SPHE curriculum, according to papers seen by The Sunday Times over the weekend.

“Like ourselves, I think parents will be satisfied that the concerns that they communicated to the NCCA through the consultation process have been attended to,” Mr Hynes said, continuing, “this was important as parents are the primary educators of their children and their views on questions of morals and values are of paramount importance within the education system”.