Italy Requires Parental Consent for Sex Education

Italy has introduced new rules requiring parental consent for students to participate in sex education activities in schools. The reform, backed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, also excludes sex education from kindergartens and elementary schools.

The bill, championed by Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara, was approved by the Senate on Thursday.

The reform has drawn criticism from opposition parties, which argue that it could limit young people’s access to information about sexuality and relationships.

Valditara defended the measure as a way to protect minors from what he called “gender propaganda” and to strengthen parents’ role in decisions about their children’s education.

Under the new rules, schools must notify families at least seven days in advance of planned sex education activities and provide information about any outside experts or organizations involved.

The law has been welcomed by the conservative group Pro Vita & Famiglia, which says it will allow parents to opt out of programs they consider inappropriate.

Critics, however, argue that the measure undermines the role of public education. Green MEP Angelo Bonelli compared requiring parental consent for sex education to requiring approval for the teaching of literature or history.

Sex education is not a mandatory part of Italy’s national curriculum. According to a 2025 Save the Children survey, 47% of Italian teenagers have received some form of sex education.

(reuters, max)