The Unió Obrera Balear (UOB) Ensenyament has criticized the Ministry of Education and Universities for the organization of a sex education course from a Catholic perspective in Ibiza, aimed at teachers of different educational stages. The training activity takes place in the CEP Ibiza and is aimed at teachers of religion, primary, secondary and high school, as reported by the union in a statement.
The course is entitled ‘The role of Religion in sex and affective education: new perspectives’ and, in the opinion of UOB, raises doubts about its suitability within the public education system. The union wonders whether it is necessary for the Conselleria “tosubject teachers to training of this type” and questions the approach chosen to address sex education, an area that it considers should be treated from scientific and secular parameters.
Call for a secular public education system
In its assessment, UOB maintains that the Catholic Church “has not stood out for being tolerant and understanding of people’s sexuality”, alluding to its history in this matter. In this sense, the union adds that, in view of the judicial cases that have come to light in recent years, the religious institution lacks the moral authority to provide this type of training.
Therefore, UOB has urged the Ministry of Education to withdraw the Religion courses and to move towards a secular public education system, encouraging both teachers and society to defend secularism in education, a recurrent claim in the educational field of the Balearic Islands and also in Ibiza.
