Sex education in portuguese basic education: an action-research including teachers and students

Abstract

This research aimed to identify teachers’ and adolescents’ attitudes and conceptions towards school based sex education (SE). The main purpose of our study was to develop teachers’ skills to approach sex education in order to promote a healthy sexuality for their students. The methodology selected was an action-research following three stages: diagnostic phase, intervention phase and evaluation phase. For diagnostic stage we developed a questionnaire for the first, second and third cycle of basic education teachers of Oporto schools. We carried out the questionnaire in order to fit it to our methodology and we validated it doing a pilot study. Questionnaire was filled in online and results were processed with SPSS statistical program. The same methodology was carried out to analyse the conceptions of second and third cycle of basic education students attending an Oporto school. We started the intervention phase with a training program for teachers about school based sex education. Then some of these teachers implemented a set of structured SE activities with their students. The evaluation phase consisted on a focus group with the intervenient teachers and on the application of a questionnaire to the students that participated in the SE activities. The results reveal that after the intervention phase teachers felt more confident, more secure and better prepared to implement projects about SE and attributed greater importance to their role as sexuality educators. The students acquired a more comprehensive concept of sexuality. They also developed more positive attitudes about the role of SE in the development of children and youth, as well as their confidence in school about the role it plays in relation to the SE increased. Some gender differences were also attenuated.