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A structured sex education program is finally on the horizon in Quebec, and it is long overdue.

For nearly a decade now, notions of sexual consent, gender identity, safe sex practices and the plain-old birds and bees have not been taught in a standardized way, but integrated into other classes in the province’s schools. The lack of a formal curriculum has led to an ad-hoc system wherein some schools devote the appropriate time and resources to this key aspect of a young person’s development, while others do not.

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This week, the provincial government took an important step toward overhauling that system with the announcement of a pilot project in 15 schools. Revamped, standalone sex-ed classes will be offered at both the elementary and high school levels, and students involved in the project are expected to receive between five and 15 hours of instruction in each of the two years that it is underway.