Source: swissinfo.ch
Following controversy over the degree and content of sexual education in primary schools, a cross-party committee has launched a people’s initiative on the issue.
The campaign, under the slogan “Protection against sexualisation in kindergarten and primary school”, has until October 2013 to collect 100,000 signatures, which would force a nationwide vote on the issue.
Spearheaded by the rightwing Swiss People’s Party, the campaign also has support from centre-right Christian Democrat and Radical parliamentarians.
A Basel-based parents’ group which helped drive the controversy over the current sexual education programme is also represented on the committee. The group particularly objects to the use of teaching aids for children, which include plush- or soft-toy models of the sexual organs.
The text of the initiative argues that sexual education is the responsibility of parents and that the topic should not be introduced in school before the age of nine.
However it does allow for “stay safe” information to be taught to children in kindergarten to prevent child abuse, as long as it does not include the mechanics of sexual acts.
The initiative calls for obligatory classes on sexual reproduction only to be introduced after the age of 12 within the framework of biology class.
swissinfo.ch and agencies
Categories: Behaviour, Education, Educational Resources, Europe, Human values, Interesting Facts, Switzerland
Child abuse is a big issue and concern in all societies, where divorce rates are high, alcoholism is in play, foster care and single parenting are more common. Instead of politicizing the agenda, schools should focus on educating on how to detect, defend, report and protect children from these kind of domestic abuse, at a very early age.
Well, sorry to say, but this ‘initiative’ died before it was born. The main initiator of this ‘initiative’ was found to be someone with a criminal record of … child abuse!!!