| Aspect | 1991 | Today | |--------|------|-------| | | 12-14, too late | 10-11, age-appropriate | | Gender grouping | Separated | Mostly mixed, with single-gender options for sensitive topics | | Masturbation | Ignored for girls, taboo for boys | Normalized as healthy and private | | Consent | Not mentioned | Taught as “FRIES” (Freely given, Reversible, Informed, Enthusiastic, Specific) | | LGBTQ+ | Invisible | Inclusive from age 12: sexual orientation, gender identity | | Pleasure | Never mentioned | Discussed in context of self-knowledge and healthy relationships | | Porn literacy | Not relevant | Taught from age 14: critical analysis of porn versus real sex | | STDs/HIV | Fear-based | Fact-based, including PrEP and testing access |
Despite the controversy, these 1991 efforts laid the groundwork for Belgium's current status as a leader in Comprehensive Sexual Education (CSE) | Aspect | 1991 | Today | |--------|------|-------|
"We see a lot of shame surrounding early romantic feelings," says Mark Tennyson, a high school health educator. "Students feel these intense urges and attachments but have no language for them. They don't know that it is normal to like someone intensely one day and feel indifferent the next. By discussing romantic storylines—the narrative of how relationships start, progress, and sometimes end—we validate their humanity." too late | 10-11
Some modern educators find that older materials were more direct in explaining the physical milestones of puberty (like voice breaking for boys or the start of menstruation for girls) before the digital age added layers of social media complexity to the mix. " says Mark Tennyson