The Ministry of Education and Science has begun revising the content of general education, one result of which may be the introduction of a new module 'Family Health' in primary school. It is planned to start implementing it as early as the next school year, and fully by September 1, 2028, reports LSM.lv. The project module includes four main topics: 'Family and Its Development', 'I as a Person and Identity', 'Interpersonal Relationships', and 'Family and Society'. It is the content of the program that has raised questions among representatives of medical and other professional organizations. In their assessment, the module titled 'Family Health' is currently more focused on family roles, values, and relationships than on health itself. In fact, the dispute is not so much about the necessity of discussing family and relationships with schoolchildren, but rather about what knowledge should be included in such a course. Medical organizations believe that it should contain more information to enhance children's and adolescents' literacy regarding health issues. The President of the Latvian Association of Gynecologists and Obstetricians, Lasma Lidaka, noted after reviewing the proposal that the module currently appears to be more oriented towards moral education. In her opinion, the content should not be tied to promoting any specific set of values. Another question has arisen — will 'Family Health' actually become a new school subject? Several organizations have formed this impression after reviewing the proposal. Lidaka considers the creation of yet another separate subject impractical, as the school curriculum is already overloaded. Topics of family and family values are already addressed in social studies, while knowledge about the human body is acquired in other classes. At the same time, according to the head of the association, the existing volume of health knowledge is insufficient. Therefore, several organizations and ministries are calling for continued discussion of the project with medical professionals, other industry specialists, and educators before its implementation. Experts also have questions about the basis on which the proposed content is founded. Diana Shavalgina, a representative of the State Education Development Agency, explained that the development used an assessment of existing curricula, foreign experience, UNESCO recommendations, and existing educational modules. Specialists from the University of Latvia and the University of Rīga Stradiņš were also involved in the work. Before the report was published, a meeting was held with partners and individual experts who had previously participated in the revision of educational content. Thus, the final content of 'Family Health' may still change. Before the full implementation of the module in 2028, its developers will need to determine what the balance will be between family and relationship topics and direct knowledge about health.
