Parents, teachers, youth and other Barrie residents will gather on Friday to protest the provincial government’s decision to scrap Ontario’s sex-education curriculum.

On July 11, the Progressive Conservative government moved toward fulfilling a campaign promise of removing the 2015 sex-education curriculum from Ontario schools.

Education Minister Lisa Thompson told reporters that school boards will teach the 1998 curriculum instead of the current one, which addresses topics such as consent, sexting, and gender identity.

“The sex-ed component is going to be reverted back to the manner in which it was prior to the changes that were introduced by the Liberal government,” Thompson told reporters.

The 1998 curriculum will be taught until a new curriculum can be developed.

On July 16, Thompson reiterated the 2015 curriculum is being scrapped, but insisted issues of consent, gender, same-sex relationships and cyber-safety would still be taught this fall even though those elements are not included in the 1998 lesson plan.

Brandon Rhéal Amyot, who is organizing the Barrie Rally for Sex Ed, notes the 1998 curriculum mentions the internet only once, and not in reference to any sexual-education themes.

“Kids now have cellphones and are on various social media applications, so it is very important that they know how to navigate the world as it is today,” Amyot said. “The 1998 curriculum is woefully unprepared to address those concerns.”

Amyot, who is the president of Fierté Simcoe Pride, noted the protest is separate from that organization, but that Pride has also issued a statement on the sex-ed curriculum.

“I think what’s key right now is getting MPPs to stand up, even within their own party, to encourage the government to revisit this decision,” Amyot said. “We can’t afford to go back — not when so many students are benefiting from this much-needed updated curriculum.”