Dr Dan White, the head of Catholic schools in Sydney.
A FURORE has erupted over the content of a new national sex education package to be developed for Australian primary and high schools.
Sydney's Catholic schools head Dan White is warning against the planned national curriculum being used as a ''how-to guide'' for children to gain access to contraception and abortion clinics.
But NSW Teachers Federation president Bob Lipscombe said sex education in the 21st century should reflect the needs of young people and equip them with information to prepare them for adulthood.
Sex education and personal development would be taught in primary and secondary schools as part of the proposed Health and Physical Education National Curriculum.
What is yet to be determined is how the controversial issues of contraception and abortion will be taught, and whether parents will have the right to withdraw their children from such classes. Federal Education Minister Julia Gillard promised yesterday there would be extensive consultation with all stakeholders, including religious schools, before the curriculum came into effect.
''As with all curriculum development there will be a strong consultation process in the development of the Health and Physical Education National Curriculum when the time comes for its implementation,'' a spokesman for Ms Gillard said.
Catholic education leaders are concerned the curriculum will mirror new laws in Britain, which have made it compulsory for all students aged 15 and 16 to learn about sex, even if their parents object.
British children as young as five could learn about same-sex relationships, how to manage their emotions and the physical changes. Abortion and contraception will be examined by older children
Dr White said the wish of parents to withdraw their children from sex classes should be respected as long as it was an informed decision.
''Our students need to be aware of abortion and contraception in sex education classes in Sydney Catholic schools,'' he said.
''We would not be happy, however, if these were the preferred methods advocated. We clearly explain to our students about the Catholic Church's strong moral stance and the right to life of the unborn child.''
The nationwide curriculum is being developed to span kindergarten to year 12, starting with English, mathematics, science and history, for implementation from 2011. A second phase will be developed in languages, geography and the arts.
Sex education would be included in a personal development, health and physical education curriculum as part of a third phase.
The 2009 National Survey of Students' Sexual Health found more than a third of 3000 high school students had experienced unwanted sex, particularly females.
There was an increase in condom use among the sample of students from years 10 and 12, from state, Catholic and independent schools - with 69 per cent of the sample using condoms.
Mr Lipscombe defended the inclusion of sex education in a national program.
''It is a different issue between making young people aware of sex education and personal development and expecting them to act on that information,'' he said.
''The national curriculum is going to include aspects of personal development and sex education.
''It should be comprehensive and provide age-appropriate factual information to enable children to make their own decisions.''
St James Ethics Centre executive director Dr Simon Longstaff said: ''If a subject such as sex education is taught at school, that does not prevent it being further discussed at home, in church or within the rest of society.''
NSW Secondary Principals' Council president Jim McAlpine said: ''We have got a very good sex education program in NSW … With the national curriculum it is still a matter for schools to write their own teaching programs and I would assume the Catholic Church would delete those things they didn't want to teach.''
The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority will determine what is age-appropriate material, the rights of parents to veto certain subject matter and what guidelines apply to religious schools, which could find elements of the new curriculum at odds with their beliefs.
A NSW Board of Studies spokeswoman said schools were allowed to determine how sensitive issues were taught.