And this is despite the fact that education plays an important role in supporting children and young people in their positive sexual development, and that attention to this subject is essential for creating a socially safe school climate in which children and young people can develop to their full potential.
Not adequately prepared
The research among students and newly qualified teachers shows that a large number of students do not feel sufficiently prepared to provide relationship and sexuality education at school or to deal with situations related to sexuality and social safety in the classroom and at school. Elsbeth Reitzema of Rutgers: “The figures are shocking. In the Biology teacher training programme, half of the students say they feel insufficiently prepared to provide relationship and sexuality education to their pupils. In the Health Care and Welfare teacher training programme, that number is even higher. In primary teacher training, 13% of beginning teachers and almost 40% of prospective teachers say they are unable to teach about this subject.”
Self-assured young people
Through social safety around sexuality and relationships in everyday situations, and through relationship and sexuality education at school, children and young people gain more knowledge about their own bodies, relationships and sexuality, develop appropriate values and standards, and learn to treat one another with respect. This contributes to the prevention of unintended pregnancies, abortion, sexual boundary violations, STIs/HIV, and negative behaviour towards gender or sexual orientation. Good relationship and sexuality education leads to more self-assured, sexually healthy young people, and ultimately also to less school dropout and better prospects for the future. Elsbeth: “The foundation for a safe school climate in general, and for sexual integrity and sexuality education in particular, can be laid in primary teacher training colleges and teacher training programmes.”
Unintended pregnancies
The research arose from a project by the ministries of Health, Welfare and Sport and Education, Culture and Science, which was originally intended to prevent unintended (teenage) pregnancies and has developed into a programme that aims to encourage schools to devote structural attention to healthy relationships and sexuality. “The aim is to enable more schools, on a structural basis, to educate their pupils and students to become citizens who deal responsibly and respectfully with their own sexuality and that of others. In doing so, schools contribute to preventing unintended (teenage) pregnancies,” says Elsbeth. “We want to provide teacher training programmes with relevant knowledge, good examples and practical tools that fit well with educational practice.”
More information?
Read the research reports here: