Education

Although there is no obligatory legal framework, comprehensive sexuality education is implemented in many secondary schools. However, there is growing attention for education in sexuality and relationships in primary schools. And there is a variety of programmes for non school settings.

Sex education is implemented in many secondary schools, although there is no obligatory legal framework. This is why some, particularly faith-based, schools have the possibility to refuse to implement sex education, a possibility that they do indeed make use of. Elsewhere, programmes are mostly comprehensive, often evidence based and regularly updated. Dutch sex education emerges from an understanding that young people are curious about sexuality and that they need, want and have a right to accurate and comprehensive information about sexual health. Materials are characterized by clear, direct, age-appropriate language in attractive designs. The leading message is: If you are going to have sex, do it safely. And the leading philosophy is: Young people have the right to adequate sex education so that they can make well-informed choices in sexuality and relationships.

Complementary to the education targeting adolescents, primary schools are increasingly considered for sex education. Some rather small-scale initiatives already exist. The desirability, feasibility and efficacy of structural sex education in primary schools is presently under investigation.

And in addition to school-based sex education, a variety of programmes is being carried out in non-school settings such as in youth care contexts or in community centres. Such programmes are, for instance, focusing on specific themes, such as the sexual empowerment of girls, or the prevention of sexual aggression. National media campaigns promoting safer sex are issued every year. A national media campaign promoting responsible sexual behaviour more broadly is presently being developed. To a growing extent, specific programmes, measures and supportive structures are designed to serve groups with relatively high sexual health care needs, such as migrant groups and/or lower educated groups. Among the newly developed interventions are coordinated peer-education and use of the ‘new’ media such as internet forums and You Tube. Rutgers Nisso Groep is an important player in this field of sex-related intervention development and accompanying evaluatory research.