Costa Rican Ministry of Education Considers Changes to LGBT and Sexual Education Protocols
Proposed modifications include the removal of specific anti-bullying protocols for LGBT students and the elimination of the sexual and affectivity education program.
The Costa Rican Ministry of Public Education (MEP) is considering changes to existing protocols and programs focused on bullying against LGBT students and the sexual education curriculum.
These proposed modifications were presented by the Minister of Education, Anna Katharina Müller, as part of a document titled 'Actions that Promote the Acceptance of Human Diversity for Peaceful Coexistence in the Costa Rican Educational System.'
One significant change includes the potential elimination of the current protocol specifically addressing bullying against LGBT students, which has been in effect since 2018. The ministry argues that such specific protocols might unintentionally segregate students based on their sexual orientation and proposes instead to integrate all bullying cases within a general protocol applicable to the entire student body.
Additionally, the ministry has proposed to revoke Circular DM-0040-07-2018. This circular outlines guidelines allowing for the recognition of gender identity changes in educational documents for students aged 15 to 18. The ministry suggests that this responsibility should lie with the Civil Registry, not with the education system.
The proposed changes also include a shift from the current Program of Sexuality and Integral Affectivity towards a new curriculum titled 'Education for Peace and Coexistence.' This program has been part of the Costa Rican education system since 2012, with reforms made in 2017 to extend its reach and content.
The Council Superior of Education (CSE) has approved this transition by a majority vote, although it acknowledged that the ministry assignments are outside its core jurisdiction as the circulars were issued by the ministry itself.
These initiatives have sparked discussion with former ministers of education expressing concern.
Former Education Ministers Leonardo Garnier and Sonia Marta Mora criticized the decision as a potential setback.
They highlighted the role of the existing program in reducing adolescent pregnancy rates, citing data from the National Institute of Statistics and Census showing a decrease from 20% in 2012 to 9% in 2023.
The MEP has stated that while this transition is intended to remove discriminatory practices, education on essential topics such as human reproduction and prevention of teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections will continue to be covered, without ideological bias.
The ministry has made clear that these changes are still under consideration pending legal reviews and definitive approval.
This ongoing development remains a critical point of discussion in Costa Rican education, with stakeholders anticipating further announcements and possible adjustments based on legal and educational evaluations.
These proposed modifications were presented by the Minister of Education, Anna Katharina Müller, as part of a document titled 'Actions that Promote the Acceptance of Human Diversity for Peaceful Coexistence in the Costa Rican Educational System.'
One significant change includes the potential elimination of the current protocol specifically addressing bullying against LGBT students, which has been in effect since 2018. The ministry argues that such specific protocols might unintentionally segregate students based on their sexual orientation and proposes instead to integrate all bullying cases within a general protocol applicable to the entire student body.
Additionally, the ministry has proposed to revoke Circular DM-0040-07-2018. This circular outlines guidelines allowing for the recognition of gender identity changes in educational documents for students aged 15 to 18. The ministry suggests that this responsibility should lie with the Civil Registry, not with the education system.
The proposed changes also include a shift from the current Program of Sexuality and Integral Affectivity towards a new curriculum titled 'Education for Peace and Coexistence.' This program has been part of the Costa Rican education system since 2012, with reforms made in 2017 to extend its reach and content.
The Council Superior of Education (CSE) has approved this transition by a majority vote, although it acknowledged that the ministry assignments are outside its core jurisdiction as the circulars were issued by the ministry itself.
These initiatives have sparked discussion with former ministers of education expressing concern.
Former Education Ministers Leonardo Garnier and Sonia Marta Mora criticized the decision as a potential setback.
They highlighted the role of the existing program in reducing adolescent pregnancy rates, citing data from the National Institute of Statistics and Census showing a decrease from 20% in 2012 to 9% in 2023.
The MEP has stated that while this transition is intended to remove discriminatory practices, education on essential topics such as human reproduction and prevention of teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections will continue to be covered, without ideological bias.
The ministry has made clear that these changes are still under consideration pending legal reviews and definitive approval.
This ongoing development remains a critical point of discussion in Costa Rican education, with stakeholders anticipating further announcements and possible adjustments based on legal and educational evaluations.
