Vika6 says six in the Hafnarfjörður primary schools

Week 6: The Sex Education Harvest Festival 

„Vika6 is sex education in its broadest sense,“ says Kristín Blöndal Ragnarsdóttir, a sex and natural science educator at Lækjarskóli and a human rights teaching officer for the City of Hafnarfjörður. Yes, next week is the week dedicated to sexual health and sex education in schools in Hafnarfjörður. It runs from 2nd to 6th February.

„Safety and violence is the focus this year,“ says Kristín. „Young people choose a theme each year. This time they chose this, and it's a call from them. All the recent discussion in society ties into this topic. They want to recognise the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships. It's a great theme and we adults can be pleased with this focus. I think there's a definite need for this kind of education.“

Kristín says Year 10 pupils get condoms in their hands. „It's a bit of a break and a fun thing to have during the week. Teachers in the secondary school who teach sex education have received cards about normal and abnormal relationships,“ she says. „The highlight of the week is the Grunnskólahátíðin, the big school prom for the secondary schools in Hafnarfjörður. We therefore discuss how we can all look out for one another that evening.“

Kristín Blöndal Ragnarsdóttir, sex and natural science educator at Lækjarskóli and human rights teaching officer for the City of Hafnarfjörður.

Breakdown in the sixth week of the year

Kristín says that the people she has met are excited for the week. „Week 6 is a fun break from the school routine.“

Can Kristín give an example of how violence and safety in sex are discussed? „It's primarily about consent, communication and respect between the parties. You always have to get consent for everything you do to another person,“ says Kristín.

„This theme can be applied to all year groups and right down to nursery school. We discuss how we respect boundaries, and that is something we need to do at all stages of life.“

She says that with social media, boundaries have been erased in a new way. „Our young people find it a bit difficult to set boundaries,“ she says. „Perhaps it has always been like this and we've been unsure where to draw the line. But with social media, we see that they feel they have a right to other people's time; that their friends should reply to them straight away and respond. It's forbidden to „seen“ and „ghost“. It's not cool to say no. They want to please one another.“

They speak for themselves

Young people are taught that they have themselves and their own time. „They must be able to set boundaries for other people. This is a necessary topic for discussion and education in schools. The best thing is that this is something they want and ask for.  They are confused and think it's a given to give each other passwords, access to their media to show they are trustworthy,“ Kristín takes as an example.

„This is a tricky subject, but I think it can be explored in a variety of ways for all age groups. Whether it's romantic relationships, or friendships and family ties, we have to feel safe and know that boundaries are respected. This all gets mixed up with the lack of discipline in society. We feel we're entitled to all sorts of things, but we need to understand that not everything is a given.“