Northern Ireland's Education Minister Paul Givan has defended his decision to order the immediate withdrawal of transgender guidance for schools. He confirmed on Monday that he wrote to the Education Authority requesting removal of its 2019 guidance.
The withdrawn guidance covered school uniforms, naming policies, use of toilets and changing rooms, access to sports and admissions to single-sex schools. It advised that transgender people "have a gender identity which differs from that of their (assigned) birth sex".
Guidance removed from website
The guidance was no longer available on the Education Authority's website by Monday afternoon. Givan told the Assembly the guidance was "unlawful and flawed" following a Supreme Court ruling in April that determined the words "woman" and "sex" in the Equality Act 2010 refer to biological women and biological sex.
Teachers' unions condemn decision
The Northern Ireland Teachers' Council, representing five recognised teacher unions, condemned the move as a "retrograde step that jeopardises the safety and well-being of some of the most vulnerable young people in our schools". The organisation called on Givan to reconsider the decision and urged the Education Authority to "stand by their previous commitments on equality and reinstate the guidance today".
Speaking during departmental questions in the Assembly, Givan outlined his position on transgender pupils in schools. "I do not believe that a boy who identifies as a girl should be participating in girls' competitive sports, or that they should be using girls' changing and toilet facilities," he said.
Minister cites legal precedent
Givan referenced the Supreme Court ruling and 1973 school premises regulations requiring separate toilet facilities for boys and girls over six years old. "The ordinary and natural meaning of that is around their biological reality," he stated, describing his position as "common sense" while acknowledging it "absolutely requires sensitivity in navigating these issues".
The minister also criticised the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland for issuing pre-action protocol letters to over 60 public bodies, including the Department of Education. He described this approach as "highly irregular" and "a waste of public funding" that diverts court time from "serious issues and criminals".
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
