Over half of Poles back health education in schools - poll
More than half of Poles support introducing the subject of health education in the school curriculum, a recent survey has found.
Poland introduced a new health education subject in schools from September 1, replacing the former 'family life education' classes. The reform, initially announced as mandatory, became voluntary after a wave of protests from conservative circles, in particular, the content concerning sex education. The topic has been a controversial one in Poland for years since the previous Law and Justice(PiS) government started spreading the notion that it aimed to sexualise children instead of providing them with the knowledge necessary for their health and well-being.
Meanwhile, according to the survey commissioned and published by the Onet.pl news portal on Thursday, 53.7 percent of respondents said they favoured the introduction of health education classes in schools, against 27.1 percent opposing it and 19.3 percent having no opinion on the matter.
The lowest support for the new school subject was recorded among young people under 24 with only 32 percent welcoming it, 30.7 percent being against it and 37.3 declining to voice their view.
According to the State Commission for Investigation of Cases against Sexual Liberty and Decency against Minors under the Age of 15 (PKDP), education of children and young people is a key factor in protecting them against sexual exploitation, and its implementation is necessary to create a more effective system for protecting minors.
The poll was run on September 23-24 on a representative sample of 846 adult Poles.(PAP)
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