Sexual-affective education yes, sexual-affective education no? How complicated the friends of the League are making it when they first (in October) presented an amendment (passed) to the so-called “Valditara bill” to ask for the extension of the ban on providing affective education courses to middle schools as well and then (now) present the amendment of the amendment to effectively withdraw that proposal.
Few but very confused ideas, in short: with the amendment just presented, the League goes back on its own decision and proposes to remove the ban for middle schools, thus returning the text to its basic version, which provided for the ban only for nursery schools and primary schools.
In essence, the introduction of sexual-affective education in middle schools will only be possible with the prior consent of family members, but the ban remains for nursery and elementary schools.
The League’s correction
The amendment introduced by the League, signed by the deputy Giorgia Latinimodified the original text, which completely excluded middle schools from the possibility of dealing with topics related to sexuality and affectivity. Now, albeit with parental consent, middle school students will be able to address these topics.
One aspect that has caused particular concern among opponents is the management of informed consent. According to some members of the Five Star Movement, the system proposed by the League could create a division among students: those whose parent refuses permission for sex education lessons will have to be excluded, creating a rift between those with “enlightened” families and those who do not. This, according to Ascari, could generate discomfort among students and fuel psychological violence, silencing the debate and the growth of awareness among young people.
Furthermore, there is concern that the introduction of a consent mechanism will exclude a significant part of the student population from the possibility of addressing fundamental issues such as respect, sexuality and affection, leaving a potentially harmful educational void. Many believe that sexual-affective education should not be a faculty to be negotiated with parents, but a universal right that must be guaranteed to all students, regardless of family beliefs.
The right to sexual education
While the bill continues to be discussed in Parliament, the issue of sexual-affective education in Italian schools is destined to remain one of the most controversial topics in the political and social debate. The challenge that not everyone is ready to take up is to guarantee an educational dialogue that not only protects the rights of minors, but also contributes to building a more inclusive society, aware and respectful of everyone’s rights, without fearing the growth of a freer and more informed generation.
We are satisfied with Parliament’s choice to accept the modification requests also made by our Organization and restore the possibility of carrying out sexual education activities in lower secondary schools, which had been precluded by an amendment approved by the Culture Commission, says Giorgia D’Errico of Save the Children, commenting on the proposed modification to the bill.
However, some critical issues remain in the text – continues D’Errico – In particular, while agreeing with the aim of the bill to promptly and accurately inform families, we believe that the introduction of a generalized and obligatory prior consent by parents for sexuality education activities risks producing counterproductive effects, reinforcing educational and cultural inequalities and limiting the freedom of initiative of girls and boys, restricting their possibilities to explore and propose topics that concern them with responsibility.
To educate young men and women about healthy sexual and emotional relationships, prevent risky behaviour, discrimination and violence, a law is urgently needed which provides for the inclusion of compulsory courses of education on affectivity and sexuality.
In this sense, sexual education should never be seen as a threat, but as a fundamental step towards a modern school, capable of facing the challenges of our time and responding equitably to the educational needs of the new generations.
The Valditara bill is in any case still under discussion, and to come into force it must be approved first in the Chamber, where it began examination on Monday and should be voted on by the end of the week, and then in the Senate.
