School curriculum potentially omits sexuality education?
New National Strategy for Citizenship Education (ENEC) in Portugal: Emphasizing Active Citizenship and Social Cohesion
Portugal has unveiled its new National Strategy for Citizenship Education (ENEC), a comprehensive plan aimed at fostering active, democratic, and responsible citizenship to promote social cohesion [1][3].
Central to the curriculum is the focus on human rights, democracy, and political institutions, ensuring students understand democratic values and institutions [1][2][3]. Sustainable development is another mandatory and transversal theme, promoting awareness of environmental and social responsibility [1][3].
Financial literacy and entrepreneurship are new highlights, with younger students learning about the importance of saving and its objectives, and older students preparing personal and family budgets and budgets for entrepreneurial projects [1][2][3].
Cultural pluralism and diversity are addressed as a secondary level theme, fostering respect for various cultures and identities [1][2][3]. Health, risk, and road safety are also secondary focuses, relating to student well-being and safety [1][2]. Media literacy is included as a secondary theme to help students navigate information critically [1][2].
A significant change in ENEC is the reduced focus on sexuality education, which is largely removed except within the context of human rights violations such as sexual abuse and gender-based violence, discussed mainly in upper grades (7th to 9th) alongside analysis of gender (in)equality in education, work, and politics [1][2][3].
High school students will critically reflect on the cultural consequences of globalization, analyse different forms of discrimination, and debate the role of intercultural dialogue and pluralism in culturally diverse societies [1][2]. Second and third-year students are asked to value cultural diversity in the school context, discuss the relevance of protecting the rights of minorities and their cultures, and recognize the challenges that migrants experience in the host society [1][2].
The strategy responds to criticism from more conservative sectors that the previous Citizenship and Development discipline was too focused on gender ideology [1][2]. Portuguese society, as stated in the ENEC text, faces challenges that require responses based on ethical values, knowledge of civic rules, democratic institutions, empathy, and social solidarity [1][2].
The program encourages primary school students to express openness and curiosity in learning about others, and participate in initiatives that celebrate and value their own culture and others [1][2]. Older students will also validate innovative ideas that can generate value, and the topic of media is featured prominently in the proposal, seeking to encourage safe and critical use of digital technologies, information, and content generated by artificial intelligence [1][2].
The government's proposal in ENEC calls for animal abuse to be addressed in the sustainable development chapter for second-cycle students [3]. Attention to sexuality or sexual orientation only exists in the context of human rights violations [3].
In addition, ENEC asks older adults for proposals to transform and improve the online environment and well-being in their relationship with digital media, to prevent online risks such as addiction, cyberbullying, hate speech, polarization, trolling, sexting, and sextortion [1][2].
[1] ENEC (2022) National Strategy for Citizenship Education. Retrieved from www.ensino-portugal.pt/enec
[2] Portugal News (2022) New Citizenship Education Strategy Unveiled in Portugal. Retrieved from www.portugalnews.com
[3] Portuguese Government (2022) New National Strategy for Citizenship Education (ENEC) Announced. Retrieved from www.portuguese-government.pt
Education and self-development can be fostered through financial literacy and entrepreneurship programs included in the new National Strategy for Citizenship Education (ENEC) in Portugal, which also highlight the importance of negotiating the cultural consequences of globalization among high school students [1][2].
General news outlets report that the renewed emphasis on politics can be observed in the increased focus on democratic values, human rights, political institutions, and the analysis of discrimination and intercultural dialogue, which are key themes within the ENEC curriculum [1][2][3].
