Catholic schools unhappy with sexual health plans
The Scottish Catholic Education Service (SCES) has voiced concerns over NHS officials’ plans to open sexual-health centres in or near schools.
The body which represents the faith’s schools claimed that the move is an ‘underhand’ plan which is a ‘direct opposition’ to parents’ wishes.
The SCES has also contended that the plan to combine relationships, sexual health and parenthood education (RSHPE) with sexual health services is unnecessary.
It said: “We find it sinister that this draft strategy proposes that sexual health service drop-in centres should be situated ‘in or close to’ schools.”
However, health promotion bodies have argued that if pupils are unable to access accurate information about sex and relationships they will be susceptible to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), unplanned pregnancies and domestic abuse.
The planned move already exists in some schools but is one of the most controversial aspects of the Scottish government’s imminent Pregnancy and Parenthood in Young People Strategy.
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