Marieke van den Borne (sex education expert at Soa Aids Nederland): “Schools pay attention to relationships and sexuality, but the way they do so varies greatly from school to school. Sex education is most effective when taking a comprehensive approach to a range of topics, from falling in love to desires, boundaries and safe sex. And it should be structurally embedded in the school: recurring lessons in different school years, so that what is important at each age is discussed.”
More and better attention to sex education
Our own research by DUO Onderwijsonderzoek en advies together with Rutgers and Soa Aids Nederland (2022) shows that almost half of social studies and biology teachers want more time and space in their lessons for sex education. In addition, 6 in 10 teachers are dissatisfied with the content of regular teaching methods. On the other hand, they are much more enthusiastic about supplementary lesson packages specifically focused on sex education, such as Lang Leve de Liefde, offered by Soa Aids Nederland and Rutgers. The Week of Love theme week helps teachers provide these supplementary lessons.
Marieke: “Research among young people shows that they too want more frequent, comprehensive and diverse information. In addition to biological topics, they also want to address the pleasurable, social and relational aspects of sex. The Week of Love gives schools and teachers the tools to respond to this during and outside regular lessons, and to start providing sex education or give existing activities a boost.”
Mandatory but fragmented and lacking clear objectives
Sex education has been mandatory in primary education and in the lower years of secondary education since 2012, but there is no clear framework for schools to determine how to implement it. As early as 2016, the Inspectorate of Education concluded that the current educational offering was ‘fragmented, dependent on individual teachers and not secured within a continuous learning pathway’. In addition, it is not yet mandatory in the upper years of secondary education.
Soa Aids Nederland and Rutgers emphasize the importance of giving sex education a structural place in secondary education, especially at the age when young people become sexually active. This means in the upper years as well. Only then can a new generation grow up with respect for themselves and one another, enabling them to develop healthy, consensual and enjoyable relationships from this foundation.
Lessons about love throughout the country
The Week of Love takes place this year from 13 through 17 February. This year’s theme for the Week of Love is: ‘Being who you are. Everyone is different.’ People differ not only in appearance and background, but also in who they are attracted to, how they identify and what they do and do not enjoy doing. Participating schools receive a special lesson package with posters, condoms and instructions for teachers. During the week, there is also a meeting in the House of Representatives, where members of parliament take a so-called ‘Sexamen’, developed by young people themselves.