Education Ministry plans family values and health literacy module, critics want more health content

Latvia's Ministry of Education and Science (IZM) plans to develop a new teaching module on family values and health literacy for basic education. The issue was reviewed by the Saeima's Request Committee, where both deputies and sector organisations criticised the idea. At the end of the session, a majority of deputies rejected the request. The government has backed the ministry's plan.

What the plan involves

Health education has not been taught as a separate subject in Latvian schools for more than 20 years; its content is included in other subjects such as sport and health, biology and social studies. The ministry does not intend to change this format. The module would have four thematic blocks: "The Family and Its Development", "Myself as a Person. Identity", "Mutual Relationships" and "Family and Society". Introduction is planned from the next school year, and full implementation from 1 September 2028.

By the end of November the ministry aims to set up expert councils, and by April 2027 to refine the module's content. Its goal is to bring existing content together in one place, defining topics, scope and expected results for each grade. Listed concepts include family roles, puberty, self-assessment, relationships and boundaries, conflict resolution and romantic relationships.

The ministry links a move to a separate subject, which the Saeima and health organisations have urged, to changes in standards, teacher training, extra funding and a prior impact assessment.

Criticism

Education and Science Minister Ilze Indriksone (National Alliance) believes the current curriculum, especially in social studies, does not provide values-based education and that the concept of family has been replaced with "community".

A group of deputies who filed the request consider the content ideological and conservatively oriented, and note that it lacks sexual and reproductive health topics. They point out that 11 of 12 opinions submitted contained objections, including from the Latvian Association of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians and the Latvian Public Health Association. The gynaecologists note that vaccination, screening and cancer prevention are missing.