MP: sex education needs a revamp

Sex education in schools should extend beyond only teaching about genitalia and pregnancy.

With the current framework around sex education, it is up to each individual teacher to decide what to include in sex education classes.

That needs to change, argues Ingilín Didriksen Strøm, MP for Javnaðarflokkurin, who has submitted to Parliament a proposal for more variety in sex education.

“The existing school curricula have no clear framework regarding the content of sex education,” she says.

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“We hear a lot about sexual abuse, but not a lot is being done to inform children about how to prevent this. Removing the taboo around this topic could go a long way to address this.”

The proposal aims to introduce topics such as sexual boundaries and consent, adapted to the pupils’ age.

“Topics such as sexuality, sexual orientation, sexual health, sexual violence, emotions and social media behaviour should also be taught in schools.”

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Strøm is aware that this may add extra pressure on teachers, who say they are buckling under the pressure of ever-increasing responsibilities.

A recent survey shows that only five percent of Faroese teachers feel they are adequately trained for providing good sex education.

“This is also addressed in the proposal. Teachers’ colleges need to play their part in lifting this taboo,” she adds, referring to views expressed by the chairman of the Teachers’ Association, who recently called for more structure in sex education for teachers and pupils alike.

Read the Faroese version of this article here.

More Faroese News in English.