Beginning next year, 10th grade students in the country will receive compulsory affectivity and sexuality lessons as part of the academic curriculum.
According to Sonia Marta Mora, Minister of Public Education, the subject seeks to educate young people in a subject they often get wrong information.
For the first time we will have an independent subject, it will not depend on any other as it happened in previous years. We are giving students a specific space to get a more comprehensive view of these issues,”
said the minister.
The new material will generate an annual cost close to 800 million colones that will serve to pay the salaries of the teachers in psychology who will teach the subject.
It seems a low cost compared to the amount of money the country invests in treating sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies. Beyond the costs, we are investing in an early prevention strategy,”
said Mora.
As for the criticisms by sectors that oppose these issues being addressed in the classroom, the minister assured that they will be approached from an educational and responsible perspective.
There is a myth that when we talk about sexuality we promote early sexual intercourse. On the contrary, when there is adequate education, it allows them to understand when something is not right and avoid the risks of improper relationships, unwanted pregnancies or diseases,”
added Mora.
The Minister also said that according to a survey carried out by the MEP, 93.8% of the students surveyed feel it is necessary to study this subject.