The DUP MP for Upper Bann commented on the motion:

“The passage of the RSE motion in Stormont  last Monday is a significant lurch in the wrong direction for anyone seeking to provide secure and safe spaces for children in Northern Ireland. The Alliance Party's proposal sought to enforce standardised RSE curriculum, bypassing the fundamental and statutory rights of school governors to provide input into the education of their students. The motion further undermined the principle of parental choice and involvement in their children's education, a principle that is fundamental to our understanding of the place of formal education in Northern Ireland.

“One of the core concerns with the proposed changes is the lack of empathy and protection for teachers who may conscientiously object to teaching standardised and compulsory RSE lessons. It is imperative that teachers are safeguarded in their right to hold personal beliefs and opinions and are protected from disciplinary measures for conscientiously objecting to teaching materials that conflict with their sincerely held values which are held as a protected characteristic in Northern Ireland by Section 75.”

“Furthermore, the compulsory nature of the proposed RSE curriculum removes the ability of parents to withdraw their children from such classes, as is currently allowed with religious education classes. This undermines parental rights and autonomy over their children's education, infringing upon their freedoms to raise their children in accordance with their beliefs and values.”

"Parents should have the right to review the quality and content of any RSE course that their child is to participate in. Transparency and parental involvement are crucial in ensuring that RSE education aligns with the values and beliefs of the families it serves."

"The views of parents and society at large are not hidden on these matters. They made their views very well known through responses to a recent Department of Education consultation on RSE which were conclusive in opposing removal of parental and school input in RSE curriculum. Those who supported the motion in Stormont last week should take stock of the significant concerns about the future of RSE which are valid and sincerely held by hundreds of thousands of people in Northern Ireland."



Carla Lockhart MP, alongside colleagues in the DUP, continues to advocate for the protection of parental rights, teacher autonomy, and the preservation of family values in education.