Backlash against sex ed threatens Poland's health curriculum

"The class on health education covers a broad range of themes including physical and mental health, healthy eating, the influence of the environment on people, and dangers associated with social media use and drugs. Of the 10 modules in the new health education curriculum, one caused a massive public outcry: sex education."

"Among other things, the module on sex education addresses a variety of subjects relating to sexuality such as contraception, sexually transmitted diseases and sexual violence. Right-wing political organizations and the Catholic Church have warned of the 'corruption' of children and are calling for the removal of the class from the school curriculum at best immediately."

"Education has long been an ideological battleground in Poland. In power from 2015 through 2023, the national-conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party increased its control over schools in the country. A 'patriotic education' and imparting 'conservative values' were declared overarching priorities."

Poland's new education coalition introduced a nonmandatory health education class at the start of the school year, replacing the previous family life education curriculum. The program encompasses ten modules addressing physical and mental health, nutrition, environmental impacts, and risks from social media and drugs. One module on sex education—covering contraception, sexually transmitted diseases, and sexual violence—triggered significant public backlash from right-wing political organizations and the Catholic Church, who characterize it as corrupting children and demand its removal. Education has remained ideologically contested in Poland, with the previous conservative Law and Justice party emphasizing patriotic education and traditional values. The new centrist coalition government, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Education Minister Barbara Nowacka, represents a policy shift toward curriculum reform and modernization.

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