Sex education "is fundamental in medical training"

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The National Association of Medical Students (ANEM) highlighted this Wednesday the importance of sexual education being included in the school curriculum, considering that "it is fundamental in the education of young people" to protect their health and have healthy relationships.

In a statement, ANEM adds that “ the data demonstrates that Sexuality Education is essential for the prevention of gender-based violence , unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, contributing to informed and healthy choices”.

He mentions, in this regard, that the World Health Organization (WHO) “points to unequivocal scientific evidence regarding its benefits”.

On Monday, the Government released the new National Strategy for Citizenship Education and Essential Learning for the subject of Citizenship and Development, which should devote less attention to topics such as sexuality and animal welfare.

"ANEM has been a champion of sexuality education, proposing its strengthening. We believe that sexuality education is fundamental and that its current approach in the education system is insufficient. Removing this topic from the content taught in the Citizenship and Development discipline would, in our view, be detrimental," emphasizes its president, Paulo Simões Peres, as quoted in the statement.

The association, which represents around 10,500 students from eight medical schools in Portugal, proposes increasing the number of hours allocated to sexuality education and reinforcing the themes of gender identity and violence in the curriculum during compulsory education.

The documents released two days ago by the Ministry of Education will be open to public consultation until August 1st, with ANEM issuing its opinion on this matter.

The announced changes to the subject's curriculum have already been criticized by politicians, the National Federation of Teachers and the League Against AIDS.