Changes to the Junior Cycle sex and relationships programme will see areas such as consent and pornography included.
Education Minister Norma Foley says the current curriculum is 'outdated' and significant reform needs to happen.
The new SPHE and RSE draft programme is due to be published by the Department of Education later on.
Minister Foley says students need a programme that is 'contempary and accessible':
"The curriculum is 20 years old, so as Minister I'm very keen that we move it on so that it's contemporary and accessible for our students. The students have said that much of what they're getting is outdated really and it's not current enough and it's it's too little too late into biological and specifically even around areas of consent. It is hugely important that students can appreciate the importance of giving and receiving consent in a relationship."
