Government's decision to eliminate sex education from citizenship program faces severe criticism from women lawyers' group
In a move that has sparked controversy, sex education is being removed from the Citizenship and Development curriculum in Portugal under the conservative government [1][2][3]. The shift in focus is towards financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and core democratic values instead of sexuality topics.
This decision fulfills an election promise and responds to conservative criticism that earlier curricula were too focused on topics labeled as "gender ideology" [2][3]. However, the decision has not gone unchallenged.
The Association of Women Jurists has expressed concern about this rollback, while broader criticism comes from socialists and public school principals who accuse the government of regressing on this issue and aligning with far-right ideologies by excluding sex education [3][4]. The removal is seen by some as ideologically motivated rather than based on educational needs [1].
Meanwhile, the consultancy Quaternaire is conducting an ongoing assessment related to the Citizenship discipline—likely reviewing the implementation and impact of the curriculum changes, although specific details from Quaternaire are not detailed in the sources [1][2][3]. The external report from Quaternaire, which could potentially impact the Citizenship discipline, is not yet available.
The Association of Women Jurists believes that only with information can children and young people be protected against sexual abuse. They argue for the need to not only maintain but to strengthen sex education in schools, a viewpoint that has not been considered in the recent changes. The Association, along with 11 other entities, has written a letter to the Minister of Education, expressing their concerns.
The Minister of Education, Fernando Alexandre, has assured that any changes to the Citizenship discipline will be based on a report from external experts. It is worth noting that the contract for the study was awarded by the Ministry of Labor, not the Ministry of Education.
The Association of Women Jurists, with its experience in conducting clarification and debate sessions in the third cycle (secondary education), secondary education, and higher education, is a significant voice in this debate. Their arguments for maintaining and strengthening sex education in schools have not been addressed as changes have been made before the external report was completed.
The Order of Psychologists also recommends integrating sexual education and mental health comprehensively into essential learning to ensure accessibility and equity, opposing the curriculum rollback.
This situation reflects a politically charged debate over the role of sex education in schools, with the curriculum currently scaled back in Citizenship and Development from its prior more expansive approach to social and gender issues [1][3][4]. The external experts' report, attributed to the consultancy Quaternaire, will not be completed until the end of the year.
- The Association of Women Jurists argues that with the removal of sex education from the Citizenship and Development curriculum, children and young people might be left unprotected against sexual abuse.
- In contrast to the conservative shift in focus towards financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and core democratic values, the Association of Women Jurists advocates for maintaining and strengthening sex education in schools, involving comprehensive learning of sexual health and mental health.
- The Order of Psychologists also recommends integrating sexual education and mental health into essential learning, opposition the curriculum rollback and advocating for accessibility and equity in education.
