The relevance of sexual education in primary school

• Autor(a) principal: Lacerda, Carla
• Data de Publicação: 2016
• Outros Autores: Lopes, Ana Jorge, Cardoso, Ana Paula, Rocha, João
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.19/4330
• topic: Sexual Education; Primary school; Teaching

Introduction: Sexual Education in schools is of mandatory character (Law No. 60/2009, of August 6) and is intended to promote psychological, social and physical health. It should be spent a minimum of six hours per year in the 1st Cycle of Basic Education (CEB). Nevertheless, not all teachers approach to this subject in their teaching practice, for lack of training, fear in approaching this issue, or other reasons. Objectives: Ascertain the degree of students' prior knowledge about sexuality; analyze the progress of students' knowledge about sexuality, after the intervention sessions; identify the main difficulties and facilities in Sexual Education approach in 1st CEB. Methods: A qualitative practitioner research was carried out, addressing three thematic blocks: hygiene habits; differences between male and female body; and gender issues. For data collection, we used field notes, as well as a questionnaire. This was applied to a class of 20 students, aged 7 and 8, in the 2nd year of schooling of the 1st CEB in a school of Viseu (Portugal). Results: Comparing the data obtained in the pre-test and post-test, we found an expressive change in students' prior knowledge in the various blocks covered, with more emphasis on recognizing the differences between male and female body. Students actively participated in learning and demonstrated interest to know more. The lack of time and the scarcity of information and suggestions for activities in school textbooks were the main difficulties encountered in the approach to the subject. Conclusions: Sexual Education is a key area of Health Education that should be addressed from the earliest years of schooling in a systematic, intentional and natural way, as it promotes essential learning for the overall development of the student.