A "false information campaign" is circulating about relationship and sex education (RSE) in Northern Ireland, the Department of Education has said.
The department has taken the highly unusual step of writing to principals during the school holidays about RSE.
BBC News NI understands some principals have received a number of messages from concerned parents over the summer.
Some concerns were in response to a leaflet recently circulated about changes to the RSE curriculum.
The leaflet was also seen by BBC News NI.
In June, Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris laid new regulations in Parliament on RSE.
They will make it compulsory for all post-primary schools in Northern Ireland to teach pupils about access to abortion and prevention of early pregnancy.
