The INCLUDED project, funded by Erasmus+, unveils its curricular training programme designed to empower secondary school students with comprehensive sexual education. The project team has worked to create a transformative learning experience, encompassing a range of topics and methodologies to foster inclusivity and empowerment. The programme, available online, includes an eight-hour training curriculum for students aged 14-20, a Handbook for schools, and recommendations for seamless integration into existing school curricula.
Developed in collaboration with educational experts, the INCLUDED project prioritises the national context of each partner and incorporates extensive consultations with school authorities, teachers, parents, and students. Through this inclusive approach, the project team identified the unique needs and challenges faced by diverse student populations, ensuring that the programme’s content is both relevant and responsive.
Aligned with the World Health Organization’s “Standards for Sexuality Education in Europe,” the INCLUDED programme adopts a holistic and positive approach to sexual education. Moreover, it integrates the theoretical framework of “intersectionality,” acknowledging the complex ways in which various factors, such as race, gender, abilities, social class, migratory status, and sexual orientation, intersect and influence one another.
The programme’s methodology draws inspiration from Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed, employing theatre and art games to create a dynamic and engaging learning environment. By embracing these innovative techniques, INCLUDED encourages students to actively participate, express their thoughts, and develop critical thinking skills.
Comprising eight comprehensive modules, the curriculum covers a wide range of vital topics:
- Human body and human development
- Fertility and reproduction
- Sexuality
- Emotions
- Relationships and lifestyles
- Sexuality, health, and well-being
- Sexuality and rights
- Social and cultural determinants of sexuality
To ensure the efficacy and practicality of the programme, a pilot implementation was conducted, involving students from diverse backgrounds, including those with disabilities, from each participating country. The insights gathered from this invaluable experience have informed the final version of the curriculum, making it even more inclusive and tailored to meet the needs of all students.
The curricular training programme can be accessed HERE.
About the INCLUDED project
The INCLUDED project is a European initiative, aiming to design and pilot an inclusive sexual education curriculum for secondary school students. In addition to the curriculum, the project incorporates methodologies that actively engage the entire school community and families in the sexual education process, utilizing creative and drama-based methods. By providing comprehensive and inclusive sexual education, the INCLUDED project strives to empower students, promote well-being, and foster a more equitable and compassionate society.
For more information, please visit https://includedproject.eu/ or contact us at [email protected].
