OIC yet to make a decision on controversial youth census

Orkney Islands Council (OIC) has yet to make a decision about the controversial health and wellbeing census that asks pupils as young as 14 questions about their sexual experience.

The rollout of the census has sparked criticism from some politicians and parents nationwide, over concerns about the explicit nature of some of the questions asked.

Asked this week if it planned to conduct the census in Orkney schools, OIC said that it has not yet reached a decision, and will only do so after a careful review of the survey and its support materials.

The Scottish Government’s health and wellbeing census has outraged parents across Scotland as it seeks information on the sexual habits of pupils as young as 14 years old, with concerns are also being raised over privacy issues.

The purpose of the census is to allow pupils to give their views on a range of matters, including physical and mental health, eating and drinking habits, and the pressures of school work, among others. From this, the government hopes that services can be improved for families and children.

Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston is among those to voice concerns over the census. His party, the Scottish Conservatives, has branded the survey “not fit for purpose”, urging the Scottish Government to withdraw it.

Mr Johnston said: “It is remarkable that Scottish Government ministers thought this survey was acceptable.

“Some of the questions being asked are totally inappropriate to be asking to children, and it’s no wonder that it has outraged so many parents across the country.

“I understand that some councils have already taken the decision not to proceed with issuing the survey, while others are reviewing it.”

More in next week’s edition of The Orcadian.