New sex education classes for Polish school children will be optional rather than compulsory, Donald Tusk’s government declared January 16.
The decision followed a controversy both within the governing coalition, between Tusk’s government and the opposition, and also the Catholic Church.
Rightwing civil society groups and the opposition Conservatives (PiS) argued the new school subject of health studies would “sexualise children”.
Conservative groups held protests in a number of Polish cities, arguing the new subject would “morally corrupt” children and was a way to smuggle sex education, currently an optional subject, into schools.
Especially controversial elements included “autosexual behaviour” and a “concept of psychosexual orientation” which included heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, asexual, cisgender, and transgender identities.
Conservative groups also argued Poland’s constitution guarantees parents a right to bring up their offspring in accordance with their own values and beliefs.
Education minister Barbara Nowacka lost a dispute within the government with deputy PM and defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, who argued for the subject to be introduced on a purely voluntary basis, with no ‘indoctrination of either Left or Right.”
Kosiniak-Kamysz heads the Polish People’s Party (PSL), an agrarian, centre-right group that is the ruling coalition’s most conservative element. Other coalition parties are more centrist and leftwing.
Under pressure from PM Tusk, who wanted to avoid controversy during a presidential election campaign, Nowacka retreated and made the health education classes optional.
Along with sex education for 9-17 year olds, the classes included mental health topics. Nowacka said the decision was taken to “protect children from political disputes”.
Nonetheless, Nowacka accused conservatives of leaving children inadequately equipped to face challenges over sexual violence and mental health.
The clash was only the latest dispute between the more socially liberal and conservative sections of Tusk’s ruling coalition.
Recently Tusk admitted it would be difficult to keep his government’s promise to end Poland’s near-total abortion ban. Meanwhile proposals to introduce same-sex civil partnerships were also being delayed.
The ruling coalition split also over tougher requirements for hunting licenses. The PSL sided with the PiS and right-wing Confederation party in derailing that legislation.
