The experimental project of the Municipality of Genoa will start in January 2026 which will introduce sexual-affective education courses in four municipal nursery schools. An initiative that will involve around 300 boys and girls aged 3 to 5, with the declared aim of promoting self-awareness, respect for the body and acceptance of differences (and not the teaching of sexual content).
An intervention in stark contrast, it must be said, with the government vision, which has instead definitively prohibited any activity on affectivity, respect for the body or relationships in middle schools, even if mediated, planned or moderated.
The presentation took place at Palazzo Tursi on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, in the presence of the mayor Silvia Salis and the school councilor Rita Bruzzone.
Where and how the experimentation takes place
The schools involved are:
The project is developed in collaboration with the anti-violence centers Mascherona and Per non suffering violence and, according to what was reported by the Municipality, will not entail significant costs for public finances.
The direct involvement of families from the beginning is fundamental. The administration clarifies that the paths will focus on:
Mayor Salis claimed the choice as an act of institutional responsibility:
“The educational task also falls to the State. This is a small step, but with the current situation I think it is a great sign.”
It should be remembered that in many Genoese schools there already exist emotional and relational activities, often born spontaneously thanks to the teachers. The objective of this experimentation is to systematize and make organic what has so far been carried out in an uneven manner.
Political controversies
The initiative generated political reactions. The deputy of the League Rossano Sasso contested the lack of clarity on the contents and methods of involving families, arguing that it is an ideological operation.
Sasso also relaunches the League’s bill on compulsory parental informed consent for sensitive educational issues, accusing the Municipality of having anticipated decisions which, in his opinion, should pass through Parliament.
Education or ideology? The real crux of the discussion
The discussion surrounding the Genoese project mainly revolves around one question: is it an educational choice or an ideological operation? On the one hand, the municipal administration claims that the intervention is designed to encourage the emotional and identity growth of children, focusing on inclusion, respect and recognition of differences. According to this vision, school should not limit itself to transmitting notions, but contribute to the development of fundamental relational skills, involving families in a shared path from the beginning.
On the other hand, the criticisms raised by the political front, in particular by the League, express (always) the fear that undeclared ideological orientations may be hidden behind the initiative. The need for greater transparency on the contents of the courses is underlined and it is reiterated that issues considered sensitive would require explicit consent from parents before being addressed in the school environment.
In any case, beyond the political debate, it would be important for everyone to remind us that the main international organizations, including the WHO, have long been promoting affective education courses from early childhood. These interventions, if adequately calibrated to the age of the children, are considered effective tools for preventing violence, promoting psychological well-being and encouraging healthy and conscious growth. From this perspective, the debate should focus not only on the legitimacy of the intervention, but also on the quality and way in which it will be implemented.
Why start so early?
The choice to intervene in the first years of life is based on pedagogical evidence:
The project of the Municipality of Genoa represents a concrete attempt to integrate emotional education, respect and body awareness from early childhood. The experimentation will be closely observed, especially for its ability to involve families and guarantee transparency on the contents.
In a historical moment in which there is a lot of talk about the prevention of violence, the Genoese experiment could become a model or open a necessary discussion on how to educate about relationships in a healthy and respectful way from an early age. Or at least we are convinced of this.
