Ed Balls is facing legal challenges from faith groups and individuals over his announcement of mandatory sex education lessons for pupils before they reach the age of consent.<\/p>\n
Religious groups reacted with anger to the move by the Schools Secretary, which will make it compulsory for all pupils aged 15 will learn about relationships, sex and drugs over the course of a year. The age of consent in the UK is 16. The Muslim Council of Britain vowed to mount a challenge to the new laws that it says contravene the right for children to be taught according to their parents\u2019 tradition.<\/p>\n
Shahid Akmal, chairman of the Muslim Council of Britain\u2019s education committee, said parents would be forced to break the law because of their beliefs. \u201cIt will cause difficulty,\u201d\u009d he said. \u201cI cannot condone people breaking the law, but it will be an individual decision and some parents will feel that it\u2019s the only option open to them.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n