Sweden: Law proposal against exemptions from sex-ex, swimming classes
Liberal party ministers Jan Björklund and Nyamko Sabuni have proposed a new schools law which removes the right to seek exemption from sexual education and swimming classes.
"All pupils, including immigrant girls, have the right to swimming lessons and to take part in physical and sexual education classes," Björklund and Sabuni argue in an opinion article in Dagens Nyheter on Sunday.
Liberal party leader and education minister, Jan Björklund, and integration minister, Nyamko Sabuni, write that the right to exemptions from these classes will be removed in a new legislative proposal to be circulated for consideration during the summer.
The ministers underline that immigration is beneficial to Sweden while they point out that in Sweden all children have the right to the knowledge offered by the schools, "regardless of whether the parents like it or not."
Björklund and Sabuni argue that far too many pupils, especially girls, in Sweden currently have their schooling "curtailed" by families with strong "honour traditions."
They point out that in many such families the freedom of women is often seen as a threat to the family.
"The will of the girls is often subordinated to what is considered to be the best interests of the family; the men's, or the group's, "honour" based on the girl's sexual behaviour."
This situation can result in girls being denied the right to participate in physical and sexual education classes, something the ministers hope the new law will put a stop to.
Björklund and Sabuni base their arguments on a recent survey of school pupils in Stockholm.
The survey, by researchers at Stockholm University, indicates that 10 percent of pupils in the city's schools regularly avoid participating in the subjects and school outings.
The survey shows that among the girls within this group, many replied that they could not participate because it would be contrary to their family's religion or culture.
The ministers refer to a further study conducted by Anders Lange and the Living History Forum that indicates that almost 25 percent of teachers been asked for an exemption from physical education or swimming classes, and 14 percent from sexual education classes.
Björklund and Sabuni argue that the figures indicate that the problem with "honour culture oppression" could be greater than previously apparent.
(more)
Source: The Local (English)
Liberal party ministers Jan Björklund and Nyamko Sabuni have proposed a new schools law which removes the right to seek exemption from sexual education and swimming classes.
"All pupils, including immigrant girls, have the right to swimming lessons and to take part in physical and sexual education classes," Björklund and Sabuni argue in an opinion article in Dagens Nyheter on Sunday.
Liberal party leader and education minister, Jan Björklund, and integration minister, Nyamko Sabuni, write that the right to exemptions from these classes will be removed in a new legislative proposal to be circulated for consideration during the summer.
The ministers underline that immigration is beneficial to Sweden while they point out that in Sweden all children have the right to the knowledge offered by the schools, "regardless of whether the parents like it or not."
Björklund and Sabuni argue that far too many pupils, especially girls, in Sweden currently have their schooling "curtailed" by families with strong "honour traditions."
They point out that in many such families the freedom of women is often seen as a threat to the family.
"The will of the girls is often subordinated to what is considered to be the best interests of the family; the men's, or the group's, "honour" based on the girl's sexual behaviour."
This situation can result in girls being denied the right to participate in physical and sexual education classes, something the ministers hope the new law will put a stop to.
Björklund and Sabuni base their arguments on a recent survey of school pupils in Stockholm.
The survey, by researchers at Stockholm University, indicates that 10 percent of pupils in the city's schools regularly avoid participating in the subjects and school outings.
The survey shows that among the girls within this group, many replied that they could not participate because it would be contrary to their family's religion or culture.
The ministers refer to a further study conducted by Anders Lange and the Living History Forum that indicates that almost 25 percent of teachers been asked for an exemption from physical education or swimming classes, and 14 percent from sexual education classes.
Björklund and Sabuni argue that the figures indicate that the problem with "honour culture oppression" could be greater than previously apparent.
(more)
Source: The Local (English)
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