2024-11-22 14:39 update: 2024-11-22, 14:42
Photo: PAP/Tomasz Gzell
'Health education' classes in schools, prepared as a compulsory new subject by the ministry of education, is at odds with the constitution, the Polish Bishops Conference told PAP on Friday.
The bishops said that sexual education, under the constitution, remains a prerogative of the parents, not the state.
"The parents have the right to raise their children according to their own beliefs," and to provide "moral and religious support according to their own beliefs," the conference said.
The bishops said that "upbringing should take into account the child's level of maturity, as well as their freedom of conscience, religion and belief."
The conference said that besides several legitimate points, like the dangers of the internet or the sharing of children's images, the rest of the 'health education' was deemed demoralising.
The new subject will be introduced to the school curriculum in 2025/2026, and will replace the current 'family life' education classes.
The new subject is under scrutiny by several right-leaning organisations that have petitioned the education ministry from September to abandon the new programme and retain the previous classes in the school curriculum. (PAP)
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