Educação sexual no currículo escolar: contribuições e desafios da temática na educação básica.

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to analyze and discuss the contributions of including sexual education in the school curriculum of a municipal school in Cajazeiras, Paraíba, and the challenges in implementing this theme in the initial training of basic education. We also have the following specific objectives: a) To identify whether/how the theme of sexual education is present in the curriculum of the municipal school and what the implications have been in the school context; b) To understand how teachers and the pedagogical team approach this theme in the classroom; c) To analyze and point out the challenges for implementing sexual education in early childhood education and the initial years of elementary school. The interest in studying sexual education in schools arose from personal experiences, previously as a student in basic education, and currently, as a teacher in training, working as an intern. From this, the following problem arose: how is sexual education being worked on in basic education, specifically in Early Childhood Education and the Initial Years of Elementary School, and what is the perception of teachers and pedagogical staff regarding the contributions and challenges of addressing the topic in the school environment? As we know, school is one of the fundamental spaces in the psychosocial, cognitive and cultural formation and development of children and adolescents throughout their lives. The research is characterized by its approach as qualitative, with a basic purpose, whose technical procedures will be guided by field research, where empirical data will be obtained through a semi-structured interview conducted with the pedagogical staff and teachers, totaling 8 participants, working in Early Childhood Education and the Initial Years of Elementary School. As a theoretical basis for the study, we dialogued with Rocha (2024), Foucault (2010), Saito and Leal (2000), Maia and Ribeiro (2011), among others. As a result, we highlight the perception of teachers about how sexual education is worked on in these stages of basic education, as well as identifying challenges and perspectives on approaching the topic in schools, in the current context, where different perspectives were observed based on the statements of the interviewees, who mostly see it as something fundamental to be addressed, however, surrounded by challenges, regarding family acceptance, the overloaded curriculum, and the lack of training desired by these professionals and offered by the school.