Manitoba’s updated health and physical education curriculum will introduce modifications to the sexual education component in the province. The Education Minister Tracy Schmidt’s representative confirmed that sexual education is part of the health curriculum overhaul, which mandates in-person physical education classes for all students from kindergarten to Grade 12. The new curriculum is set to launch in September through a voluntary two-year pilot program to replace the outdated curriculum, which has not been revised in 25 years.
As of Thursday, over two dozen schools in Manitoba have volunteered to participate in the pilot program. Feedback from teachers and parents will be solicited during this phase. The full implementation of the new health curriculum is scheduled for the 2028-29 school year. According to Schmidt’s spokesperson, the updated curriculum is designed to address contemporary issues faced by young people, offering developmentally appropriate, factual, and comprehensive information to help students make health-conscious decisions regarding relationships, safety, and well-being.
While the specific changes regarding sexual education in Manitoba are not yet publicized since the health curriculum is not available to the general public, Schmidt has indicated that it will be accessible online at the beginning of the school year. Kaitlyn White from the Sexuality Education Resource Centre’s Brandon office expressed a desire for more open discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity to be included in the new curriculum. She emphasized the importance of comprehensive sexuality education in reducing gender-based violence, fostering healthier and safer school environments, and preventing suicides.
White critiqued the current sex education programming in Manitoba for its bias towards heterosexual and cisgender identities, highlighting the need for more inclusive discussions on sexual orientation, gender identity, and diverse relationship dynamics. She cited research indicating that limiting sexuality education to cisgender, heterosexual, monogamous relationships perpetuates disrespectful and unsafe environments for students and staff. White stressed that integrating such material into the curriculum and making it mandatory can contribute to the creation of safer and healthier communities.
Two human rights complaints were filed in 2017 by several parents, alleging discrimination against 2SLGBTQ+ families in Manitoba’s school curriculum by not providing adequate learning materials that reflect diverse family structures. A Manitoba Human Rights Commission investigation confirmed the discriminatory nature of the curriculum but was initially dismissed by the commission’s board. However, a Court of Queen’s Bench justice ordered the commission to reevaluate the complaint in 2021.
While provincial officials did not publicly announce changes in the sexual education curriculum, unlike the physical education update, stakeholders like White eagerly anticipate accessing the new curriculum online. Opposition Progressive Conservative Leader Obby Khan expressed support for updating the curriculum to address contemporary challenges faced by students. Khan stressed the importance of transparency and consultation with educators and relevant stakeholders in the curriculum development process.
White remains optimistic that the two-year pilot project will lead to a more comprehensive health education framework for Manitoba students in the near future, aiming to avoid prolonged periods with outdated educational materials.