Schools in the United Kingdom will not have to use student-chosen pronouns and will have to inform parents of pupils who ask to change their gender under the new guidelines.
A parent-centered approach to gender transition, if approved, would “take a very cautious approach” to important decisions regarding students’ gender and health.
“Parents’ views must also be at the heart of all decisions made about their children,” Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said, according to the BBC.
In situations where the child may be at risk if the parent is notified, the school can override the parent’s permission, according to the document.
The guidelines also state that schools do not have a “general duty” to allow students to “socially transition,” meaning that educators will not be pressured to use different pronouns.
Instead, they urged caution, including “a watchful waiting period, and ensuring parents are fully consulted before any decision is made.”
Schools in England will have to follow new guidance which includes notifying parents when their children decide to change gender. Drazen – stock.adobe.com
Additionally, restrooms and locker rooms, as well as some sports, will be segregated based on birth sex.
“Schools must always protect single-sex spaces with respect to toilets, bathrooms and changing rooms,” the document said.
“Answering the demand to support any level of social transition must not include allowing access to this space. By default, all children should use the toilet, shower and changing facilities designated for their biological sex unless it would cause hardship for them to do so.”
Schools can offer gender-neutral options when it comes to bathrooms, but they must be single-stall facilities that can be “protected from the inside”.
For single-sex schools, institutions will have the right to refuse admission to those who question their gender.
The new guidelines, introduced by Education Secretary Gillian Keegan (left) and Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch, are now subject to a 12-week public consultation before being finalised. Getty Images
In addition, educators are advised not to use new names or pronouns until they are “approved by the school or college following proper procedures and, in most cases, parental consent.”
Schools are also required to record the name and biological gender of each student on official documents.
The new guidelines, introduced by Keegan and Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch, are now subject to a 12-week public consultation before being finalised, according to the BBC.
Already, significant legal risks have been warned, as school leaders worry that following strict guidelines could land them in court.
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said it was “vital” for schools to have “assurance that any guidance they follow does not expose them to the risk of legal action,” The Guardian reported.
However, a government spokesman said the guidelines were “legally valid” and would “help schools navigate these complex and sensitive issues, by urging caution, parental involvement, and prioritizing protection at all times,” they said. to The Guardian.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
