SEXUAL ABUSE

Guidelines on Sexuality and Relationships Education published in 2013, but curriculum updated frequently

Several women have recently shared their personal accounts and experiences of sexual assault and abuse through social media. Many explained how they faced sexual abuse at a very young age; some recalling how they were too young to understand what was happening to them, as trusted individuals or family members would take sexual advantage of them. Others recounted how they felt sex was too much of a taboo subject to speak about and could not talk about what happened to them not until they were much older.

Many NGO’s who deal with domestic violence, sexual abuse and harassment have, time and time again, highlighted the importance of education and how children must grow aware of such situations of sexual abuse and harassment.

What is currently on the curriculum on sexuality and relationships education? What are youths being taught regarding consent, sexuality and different relationships? The Malta Independent on Sunday contacted the Education Ministry and Dr Colin Calleja, the Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Malta, to get a better insight at the curriculum itself.

The PSCD syllabus provides skills to empower children to engage in healthy, fulfilling and responsible relationships and protect themselves from possible harm or undue risks.

Most recent guidelines on Sexuality and Relationships Education published in 2013

‘A National Curriculum Framework for All’ and the ‘Guidelines on Sexuality and Relationships Education in Maltese Schools’ highlight the notion of inclusivity, encouraged critical thinking and reflection about sexual health, gender identities, gender-role stereotyping and different sexual choices and orientation,” an Education Ministry spokesperson told this newsroom.

“The National Curriculum Framework for All,” was published in 2012, while the “Guidelines on Sexuality and Relationships Education in Maltese Schools,” were published in 2013.

The ‘National Minimum Curriculum’ (1990) was the first legal framework which embraced different aspects of the human development and the diversity of each student. The spokesperson explained that the NMC put emphasis on teaching experiences that allow children and young persons to develop skills and attitudes which help them debate sexual topics in a mature way, and develop an unbiased and nonjudgemental attitude towards sex and sexuality.

The spokesperson explained that Sexuality and Relationship education (SRE) is compulsory in Malta under the Basic Education Act and is delivered in various subjects, mainly in science, biology, religion and PSCD.

Sexuality and Relationships education is a lifelong process

“In education, we refer to Sexuality and Relationships Education (SRE) instead of Sexual Health Education, because the syllabus aims to have a holistic view which takes into consideration the cognitive, emotional, social, psychological and physical aspect of sexuality,” an Education spokesperson told this newsroom. According to the Ministry, SRE is a lifelong process and lessons begin at a primary level and continue till compulsory age education.

A number of topics are discussed within PSCD lessons, topics such as Growing Up, Different Relationships, Sexual orientation and families, Responsible Behaviour in Sexuality, Conception and pregnancy, health and sexuality, abuse, pornography and other topics related to self and health education.

When asked whether the curriculum is out-dated or not, the spokesperson highlighted that the PSCD syllabus is constantly updated to make sure the needs of children and young persons are acknowledged.

“Today, children and young persons have easy access to sexualised images and pornographic material and are thus encountering new issues and challenges especially related to gender norms, body image, sexting and sexual violence amongst other pertinent issues. The SRE programme in Malta is one of the best in Europe because of its holistic approach. The SRE programme within PSCD provides and ensures that students of different age groups have access to a comprehensive, incremental, age and developmentally appropriate, inclusive, culturally relevant and context appropriate sexuality education.”

The PSCD syllabus provides skills to empower children to engage in healthy, fulfilling and responsible relationships and protect themselves from possible harm or undue risks.

He added that trained and skilled teachers provide a nonjudgmental and safe space for all children to obtain the necessary knowledge and develop the skills to act on this information. The syllabus also has been supplemented by the development of clips and workbooks and the acquisition of resources namely contraceptive kits and breast and testicular self-examination kits.

“PSCD Education Officers are also working in collaboration with various entities such as The Commissioner for Gender Based Violence, The Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Directorate and The Human Rights Directorate to ensure that the latest information and trends are translated into the syllabus.”

When asked whether the Ministry receives feedback from educators regarding the current curriculum, the spokesperson explained that teachers regularly attend training courses organised by the Education Officers to keep them up with the latest trends and information. “Education Officers also ask and receive feedback from teachers about various aspects of the syllabus, carry out visits in schools and classes so they have first-hand experience of how the syllabus is translated in lessons, so that the necessary changes and adaptions are made.”