The halls of Saskatchewan schools remain closed to community health experts and sexual education specialists as the provincial government stands firm on its controversial policy limiting who can teach sensitive topics to students.
Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill confirmed yesterday that the pause on third-party presenters for sexual health education will continue through the 2024-25 school year, extending a restriction first implemented last September following parental concerns about “age-inappropriate” content.
“Our position hasn’t changed. Parents deserve to know what their children are learning, especially on sensitive topics,” Cockrill told reporters during a back-to-school briefing at the legislative building in Regina. “School divisions have the curriculum tools they need, and teachers are well-equipped to deliver this material.”
The policy requires that only Saskatchewan teachers employed by school divisions can present sexual health education, effectively barring organizations like Planned Parenthood and Sexual Health Centre Saskatoon from classrooms – groups that had previously supplemented the curriculum with specialized workshops.
For Amanda Schenstead, a mother of three school-aged children in Saskatoon, the government’s stance feels misguided. “My kids have benefited from these experts coming in. They ask questions they might be too embarrassed to ask their regular teacher,” she said during a recent school council meeting. “This feels like politics getting in the way of good education.”
The restriction emerged after a controversy in Lumsden last year when parents complained about material they deemed inappropriate presented by a sexual health organization. Premier Scott Moe’s Saskatchewan Party government quickly implemented the pause, citing the need to review standards.
Health educators point to concerning gaps that could emerge without specialized support. Saskatchewan’s teen pregnancy rate sits 35% above the national average, according to Statistics Canada data released in March.
Dr. Carrie Bourassa, a public health researcher at the University of Saskatchewan, expressed concern about the policy’s continuation. “The evidence is clear that comprehensive sexual health education leads to better health outcomes, reduced STI rates, and helps young people make informed decisions,” she noted. “Removing experts from the equation seems counterproductive to public health goals.”
The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation hasn’t taken an official position on the policy, but President Samantha Becotte acknowledged that many educators feel caught in the middle.
“Our members are professionals who follow the curriculum, but some topics benefit from specialized knowledge,” Becotte explained. “Sexual health education requires nuance and up-to-date information that community partners often provide.”
Meanwhile, classroom teachers like Michael Kowalchuk at Aden Bowman Collegiate in Saskatoon have been adapting. “I’ve had to significantly upgrade my own knowledge,” he said. “There are questions students ask that I honestly wouldn’t have thought to address without the training these outside organizations provided to me in previous years.”
The province maintains that the curriculum itself hasn’t changed – only who can deliver it. School divisions must now ensure that sexual education stays within curriculum guidelines and is taught exclusively by certified teachers.
Support for the policy remains strong among some parent groups. Parents for Choice in Education Saskatchewan, which advocated for the initial pause, praised the extension. “Children deserve age-appropriate education that aligns with their developmental stages,” said spokesperson Jennifer Miller. “This policy ensures oversight and consistency.”
However, youth advocates worry about real-world consequences. The Sexual Health Centre in Saskatoon reports a 22% increase in youth drop-in visits since the policy began, suggesting students may be seeking information elsewhere.
“Young people will find answers to their questions one way or another,” said Executive Director Heather Hale. “We’d rather they get accurate information in a supportive environment than turn exclusively to peers or the internet.”
Indigenous leaders have also voiced concerns about cultural competency. Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Vice-Chief David Pratt highlighted that many First Nations communities have traditional knowledge keepers who previously contributed to sexual health education through cultural perspectives.
“Our ways of teaching about bodies, relationships, and consent are now effectively barred from provincial schools,” Pratt said. “This policy fails to recognize the importance of culturally relevant education.”
As the school year progresses, the Ministry of Education plans to release updated resources for teachers by December, promising enhanced materials that “respect parental authority while meeting curriculum requirements.”
For now, Saskatchewan classrooms will continue navigating these sensitive topics without the community specialists who once helped bridge knowledge gaps, leaving teachers, parents, and students to adapt to what has become one of the province’s most contested education policies.
