In 2015, Costa Rica’s Ministry of Public Education started to undertake a “transformation” of its curriculum to include “sexuality and affectivity” as part of its offerings, explained Education Minister Sonia Marta Mora.

She announced this week the creation of a new subject to be offered for all 10th graders in the 2018 Feb. – Dec. school year.

The sexuality and affectivity class will be led by public school psychology teachers using a participatory methodology that will facilitate students sharing knowledge they have on the subject and creating “open spaces for reflection,” said Mora.

The topic begins to be included in age-appropriate ways beginning in primary school, and culminating in this new required class in high school.

Mora explained that the integrated approach the ministry is using on the topic of sexuality involves drawing from different subjects, and integrating and enriching the topic from the different disciplines.

“In this model … Each educational center director must promote a collaborative model between the guidance counsellors, and civic education, science and psychology professionals, so that the education that our students receive is enriched by these different perspectives,” explained the minister.