What do teachers in Romania think about children's sexual development and education?

Abstract

The topic of sexuality passes for a taboo in our country even today, there being no open treatment of the subject, not even in the closest family circle. There is no sexual education in schools, while sexual enlightenment is restricted to 1-2 hours, provided at the age of 13-14. Our goal is to determine the knowledge and views of Romanian teachers on the sexual development and sexual education of children. The survey was conducted in 2022-2023 as self-filling on-line questionnaire (N=455). Our research was aimed at exacting the knowledge of Romanian kindergarten teachers, elementary school teachers and teachers on the bodily and psychic safety of children, on the factors endangering these, on various topics of sexual education, on the openness of parents related to the sexuality of their children and the flexibility of kindergartens and schools in what pertains to the introduction of sexual education. Most of our responders consider sexuality to be a natural part of a healthy life and that it should be tackled from the earliest possible ages both within the family and in educational institutions. According to the surveyed teachers, parents are reluctant to talk about sexuality to their own children and rely on sexual education in kindergartens and schools. If training on sexual education were to be introduced in Romania, most of the surveyed would gladly participate. They also recommended 27 related topics in 7 categories, all of which should all be covered by the said training. Our results called attention to the deficiency of education on reproduction. This can be improved but the task is complex. In order to solve the problem, the educational systemic view needs to change, while directives based on scientific proof need to be accepted and observed. All teachers dealing with the age-groups concerned need to take part in the educational process. Parents, teachers and educators need to be aware of the self-image developed by the child and of the effect this image has upon the evolution of the child’s future role in society. Sexual education should imperatively be incorporated into the educational process beginning with toddlers and up to young adults.