A senior Fianna Fáil TD had questioned the suitability of some books and films on the curriculum for English in both Junior and Leaving Certificate exams, claiming they contain descriptions and images of paedophilia, bestiality and torture. Former minister Willie O’Dea said the issue was a “cause of concern” which needed to be examined carefully. “Many of the texts and films on the NCCA prescribed list for the English curriculum in secondary schools here contain explicit, graphic sexual content including sex between older adults and minors, bestiality and violence including torture,” said Mr O’Dea. He pointed out that several texts on the NCCA list had previously been banned from the curriculum in the UK and the United States. The Minister said the list for both the Junior and Leaving Certificate curriculum would be reviewed in the coming months.

Source: The Irish Times May 16, 2021 18:24 UTC