The current system of sexuality education in Polish secondary schools: University students’ perspectives

Abstract

In secondary schools in Poland, sexuality education was formally introduced in 1993 in the form of Education for Family Life (EFL) classes. The EFL curriculum is largely based on Catholic doctrine. The current study examined the opinions and attitudes of students attending a university in Poland regarding sexuality education in public secondary schools. A sample of 498 first- and second-year university students completed a questionnaire that collected information on demographic characteristics, the student’s sources of information about sexual health, and their opinions and attitudes related to sexuality education. Over 80% of the students used the Internet as a source of sexual health information while far fewer students cited teachers/classroom activities (24.3%). Over three-quarter of females (79.5%) and males (75.9%) agreed that it is important to have sexual health education as part of the secondary school curriculum. Students’ responses to the question on the importance of sexual health education in schools did not differ significantly based on their level of religious commitment. However, few women (12.9%) and men (9.2%) rated the current effectiveness of sexuality education in schools as “high.” For topics that should be covered in the curriculum, the students rated birth control methods, abortion, sexual orientation/lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues, and sexually transmitted diseases the highest. The findings indicate that Polish university students view school-based sexual health education as important but currently ineffective. Policies to reform public school-based sexual health in Poland are needed to ensure that Polish youth have the information and skills to protect and enhance their sexual health.