Liberals call for mandatory sex ed
The Liberal Party wants to remove the option for parents to request exemptions from sex education classes for their children.
According to the party, all students, irrespective of religious or cultural beliefs, should receive instruction in the same subjects.
In a debate article in the Dagens Nyheter newspaper, three Liberal Party representatives propose changes to the law that would scrap any exceptions from lessons based on religious reasons.
“It’s inappropriate that a rule about freedom from obligatory lessons which was meant to be used in exceptional cases has resulted in that every fourth foreign-born girl doesn’t participate in an important teaching moment in school,” write Party Leader Jan Björklund, Integration Minister Nyamko Sabuni, and Party Secretary Erik Ullenhag.
The three point to a doctoral dissertation which shows that 27 percent of foreign born girls don’t receive instruction in athletics, swimming, or sexual education.
“Our belief in a tolerant society should never result in us covering our eyes when women are the victim of attacks or being denied their rights with the excuse that it is a part of their culture or religion,” the three write.
Current regulations allow for students to avoid certain lessons in the case of “special circumstances.”
The suggested changes to the law are due to be discussed at the Liberal Party’s council meeting in October.
Comments
See Also
According to the party, all students, irrespective of religious or cultural beliefs, should receive instruction in the same subjects.
In a debate article in the Dagens Nyheter newspaper, three Liberal Party representatives propose changes to the law that would scrap any exceptions from lessons based on religious reasons.
“It’s inappropriate that a rule about freedom from obligatory lessons which was meant to be used in exceptional cases has resulted in that every fourth foreign-born girl doesn’t participate in an important teaching moment in school,” write Party Leader Jan Björklund, Integration Minister Nyamko Sabuni, and Party Secretary Erik Ullenhag.
The three point to a doctoral dissertation which shows that 27 percent of foreign born girls don’t receive instruction in athletics, swimming, or sexual education.
“Our belief in a tolerant society should never result in us covering our eyes when women are the victim of attacks or being denied their rights with the excuse that it is a part of their culture or religion,” the three write.
Current regulations allow for students to avoid certain lessons in the case of “special circumstances.”
The suggested changes to the law are due to be discussed at the Liberal Party’s council meeting in October.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.