KINGSTON, Jamaica – Senator Ruel Reid, minister of education, youth and information, today met with representatives of the Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society to hear their concerns about the infiltration of Comprehensive Sexuality Education philosophy into the education system.

Minister Reid made it clear that the Education Ministry’s philosophical position is that gender is fixed as male and female, a news release from the ministry said.

He said a recent review of the approved books used with the Health and Family Life Education curriculum indicate that their contents are in conformity with Jamaica’s philosophical position on sexuality and gender.

The current Health and Family Life Education (HFLE) curriculum on sexuality education was reviewed in 2012, following claims that it violated Jamaican norms and values.

Minister Reid reportedly disclosed that the ministry’s three-year curriculum cycle now requires a review of the HFLE material.

In conducting the review, Minister Reid indicated that the ministry would take into consideration the concerns raised by local advocacy groups to ensure that the curriculum reflects Jamaica’s values and philosophical perspectives.

In addition, the education minster said he would ask Cabinet to pronounce on Jamaica’s position on sexuality education in order to provide guidelines for the country’s representatives who have to participate in international fora.