“Making 5-year-old children aware of sexuality”: what is contained in sex education courses which are controversial in Belgium
Petition, demonstration, vandalized schools: the introduction of the Evras program (education in relational, emotional and sexual life) causes an outcry in French-speaking Belgium at the start of the school year. But what does it really contain?
It is not under the best auspices that the start of the school year in Belgium. For good reason, an education program for relational, emotional and sexual life, called Evras, provokes the anger and indignation of parents, who have gone so far as to burn down schools as a sign of protest.
A disinformation campaign
Several organizations, mainly from conservative Catholic and Muslim circles, are completely against this program, to the point of frightening parents by circulating an erroneous document on the said program.
On this one, relayed by Freewe can read that the program aims to “raise awareness of sexuality to children from the age of five or to provide sexual education to children”.
In reality, the Evras program is not a course strictly speaking but a four-hour activity, or two two-hour sessions per year, aimed at sixth and second year students.
It is also nothing new since it has existed since 2012, but has simply just been adopted by decree on September 7, and made compulsory only for sixth and second grade students, as reported RTBF.
Suitable themes
By browsing the 300-page guide, available on the reference site of theEvraswe can find various themes such as managing emotions, self-esteem, the role of family, managing a separation from one’s parents, etc.
The themes are adapted and evolve according to the age of the children and are never mentioned without first being quoted or questioned by a child.
Thus, trainers will not talk about masturbation or pornography to children who have never been confronted with them or who have not asked any questions on these themes.
Protect children from dangerous or problematic situations
The French-speaking Minister of Education, Caroline Désir, took up the subject on the airwaves of the RTBF. She warns against this disinformation campaign. According to her, the maneuver has the sole aim of “stoking fear and suspicion among parents about this project”.
The Minister of Education recalls that the Evras program aims to protect children from dangerous or problematic situations and to reassure them in the questions they ask themselves in relation to puberty, by teaching them to respect themselves. and respect others.
