The debate on sex education in Italian schools has reignited after the approval, in the House Culture Committee, of an amendment proposed by the Lega party to the bill on informed consent in schools.
The
amendment
introduces stricter limits to educational activities that deal with
issues related to sexuality and affection, especially for younger
students.
According
to the
amendment, any
project or activity that addresses topics such as gender identity,
sexual orientation or romantic
relationships must be explicitly authorized by the parents, through
written informed consent. The
document must indicate in detail the contents, objectives and methods
of the lessons or meetings.
The main novelty concerns the extension of the ban to middle schools. Previously, the restrictions only applied to childhood and primary, but the change also effectively excludes secondary school from academic activities on these issues. However, sex education is not completely eliminated: The national curriculum guidelines remain valid, which already provide basic notions on physical development, reproduction and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. Opponents has criticized the measure, arguing that it represents a step backwards in the training of young people and in the prevention of phenomena such as gender violence or sexual misinformation. According to many teachers and associations, limiting these paths risks leaving students without adequate tools to understand and manage their romantic and relational sphere. The measure’s proponents, on the other hand, defend the choice as a form of protection of families. The Lega party explains that the goal is not to ban sex education, but to prevent subjects outside the school from proposing projects that are considered as ideological or age-inappropriate for pupils. The principle, they say, is to give back to parents the right to decide on sensitive issues that concern their children.
If
the rule were to be definitively approved, many
schools might
find be
forced to suspend or reduce sex education programs
for
students up to the age of 13-14. This
could lead teens to seek information on complex issues, such as
sexuality, elsewhere, often online, at the risk of encountering
inaccurate or harmful content. The debate remains open and touches on
a central theme of the educational system: To what extent should
schools deal with the romantic
and sexual formation of young people, and what role
should
families play
in
this process?
Mondo Internazionale APS - Riproduzione Riservata ® 2025
Mondo Internazionale APS - Riproduzione Riservata ® 2025