Dutch Christian secondary schools are to receive a new teaching module on homosexuality. Publishing house Merweboek writes on its website that the module, in which homosexuality is not explicitly condemned, will be available to Christian schools by mid 2012.

In an interview with broadsheet AD, author Henrieke Remmink said: “We may disapprove of a relationship, but it is wrong to condemn people on the basis of their sexual orientation.” She argues that young homosexual people should be able to talk about their orientation without being rejected.

The module states that “sexuality should form part of a marriage between a man and a woman,” Remmink said. She argues that the module has an implied position on the issue, but allows young people to form their own opinion. “There is no point in trying to force a specific point of view on them. If you tried, many students would forget all about it before they left the class room.”

Ms Remmink says schools need this module. In addition, the cabinet has made education on homosexuality a compulsory subject.

(gsh/hs)

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