Education Minister Barbara Nowacka said early reports of low attendance are because the subject is optional.
At a press conference on Wednesday, 8 October, Nowacka said: “Health education is a well-prepared and extremely necessary subject for young people. We were aware of the consequences of its non-compulsory nature.”
The course was introduced this year as optional. “The natural consequence is that some students unfortunately choose not to take it,” she added.
Minister Nowacka tackles disinformation on health education
“This year we are treating it as a period for properly implementing health education and countering misinformation. Further decisions will be made after analysing research results, evaluations, and discussions with the educational community,” Nowacka said.
The minister also announced efforts to fight a disinformation campaign launched by the Church and right-wing politicians against the subject.
“Health education covers health, diet, exercise, personal hygiene, and prevention. It does not contain any content that could be considered inappropriate,” she said, adding: “It takes a lot of bad faith to interpret a statement about preventing sexualisation as implying anything else.”
(mp)
Source: IAR/PR24/MEN/KPRM