CONTENT AND PREREQUISITES OF THE COMPREHENSIVE SEXUALITY EDUCATION IMPLEMENTATION IN UKRAINE
Authors:   Taras Shevchenko national University of Kyiv, Baidarova Olha , Bobryk Olha ,   Taras Shevchenko national University of Kyiv
Published: February 2023

The need for science-based knowledge about sexual life is natural for children and youth all over the world. Official statistics on the incidence of sexually transmitted infections, gender-based violence, and early pregnancies emphasize the urgency of the problem of developing sexual competence for Ukrainian children and youth. The purpose of the article is to study the foreign and Ukrainian experience of sexual education at school, to understand the essence of the concept of comprehensive sexuality education, its actors, and the requirements for their training. The main research method was document analysis. The results of a review of approaches to developing the researched problem in foreign and national scientific publications and a comparative analysis of Ukrainian, some foreign and international standards (guidelines, recommendations) regarding sexual education are highlighted. It was found that today there is no unity in terminology, interpretation, and criteria for defining sexual education. There are national differences in approaches to understanding its goals and content. Sexual education is interpreted in a narrow and broad sense, but in this matter, scientists are gradually more and more inclined to use a complex approach. A broad interpretation of sexuality education shifts the traditional emphasis from the physiological and biological features of the sexes, the problems of sexual life, including the prevention of accidental pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and the achievement of safe sexual satisfaction (sex education, sexual health education) to the issues of forming a culture of sexuality and related feelings, understanding and protection of one's rights, including sexual, throughout life, humane treatment and responsible behavior in relationships, clear and respectful communication, preparation for marriage and family life (comprehensive sexual health education, comprehensive sexuality education). Comprehensive sexuality education has strong support in the international discourse and is supported by a relatively robust evidence base. A comprehensive approach enables educators and policymakers to address not only the individual determinants of young people's sexual and reproductive health but also the social determinants of their health and well-being. Comprehensive sexuality education is not reduced to the activity or responsibility of an individual teacher. However, it is the result of the collective actions of all teachers in conditions of mutual support and exchange of experience in implementing sexual education programs. Health, biology, and physical education teachers considered critical in sexual education at school. At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen teachers' ability in sexuality education by improving the qualifications of teachers and providing constant support. The document analysis proved the inadequacy of the development and practical solution of the introduction of comprehensive sexuality education in Ukrainian schools. At the same time, the European and American experience of a number of foreign and international standards, guidelines, and technical documents, which relate to the content and results of sexuality education for students, the quality of the application of education standards, and professional training of teachers, shows a reasonably stable conviction that comprehensive sexuality education contributes to children and society as a whole.