After the furore that erupted, Retrieved from by the Institute of Education Policy in the program of the non-profit association «Hellenic Society for Prenatal Education» which was approved by the Ministry of Education for the high schools of the country, and reproduced views such as unborn child theory.
In its statement the IEP said that «the President of the Institute of Educational Policy John Antoniou announces that the Governing Board of the IEP has decided to withdraw its approval of the Educational Program of the Non-Profit Association «Hellenic Society for Prenatal Education». The immediate reactions from institutions and social media users had to do with the fact that, in the video, obscurantist views were heard such as that «everything starts before the birth of the child and more specifically from the moment of conception», or that «in East Africa we learn that the birth date is considered the moment the mother conceives the idea of giving birth to a child. In other words, we are talking about the moment when this idea blossoms in her mind».
The social media were flooded with negative comments against the Minister of Education Nikis Kerameos, while SYRIZA issued a statement on the issue.
«Prenatal Education, preparation for parenthood, Sexuality-Fertility-Parenthood-Parenthood, an inseparable unity», is the title of the 3 videos that reproduce the theory of the unborn child, that is, that a child's life begins at conception.
In the videos it is reproduced that conception begins the moment the mother conceives the idea of having a child, that the mother in addition to her blood is passed on to the fetus her thoughts, spiritual nourishment or that all the child's diseases still and if they occur decades later, they have relation to pregnancy.
According to the company's theory, the choice of genetic material depends on the... quality of love of the couple. It even explains that «...when the couple is in a higher spiritual state at the moment of conception, it is an experience that the child carries with him throughout his life.».
What the Secretary General of the Ministry of Education said
As stressed in ethnos.gr the Secretary General of the Ministry of Education, Alexander Koptis, this program was approved by the Institute of Education Policy (IEP) and sent by the Ministry of Education in schools. He then stressed that the adoption of such programmes does not imply the adoption of views. The political leadership of the ministry, he continued, «cannot control every educational material as approval is given by the IEP.».
Fires from SYRIZA
On the issue, the deputy head of the Department of Education of SYRIZA, Meropi Tzoufi, issued a statement, which stresses:
«The Ministry of Education has turned into an institutional «denier» of rationality and science, constantly challenging the educational community and society as a whole. The latest act is the approval of a «Pre-natal Education» programme for high school students, which reproduces and disseminates the obscurantist theory of the «unborn child», propagates conservative false theories about sexuality, fertility, parenthood and the body, incriminating women and questioning the right to abortion.
They have learned nothing from the resounding cancellation of the «1st Fertility Conference», which caused a furore of reactions and forced media, sponsors and the President of the Republic to withdraw their support. They pretend not to hear about femicide, rape, harassment, abuse, gender violence.
This is why they abolished the «Thematic Week» and suspended the sex education programme «Playing with Frisox and learning about my body and interpersonal relationships», which was introduced in schools in 2015. Their every initiative is a response to the extreme right-wing audience of New Democracy and the extreme ecclesiastical circles, even if they have to twist scientific truth and scar teenage souls.
The government and the Ministry of Education should finally deal with the «born children» and leave the «unborn». Let them shield the public school against the pandemic so that we don't count 160,000 cases in the 0-17 age group by the beginning of 2022. Let them also stop the dismantling of the Pediatric Hospitals and the closure of the «Pediatric Hospital of Penteli».
Every day they confirm how destructive they are for society and especially for the young generation. They must go. We will not allow them to return us to the Middle Ages, neither materially nor spiritually.»
The letter of the «Hellenic Society for Prenatal Education» to schools
«Dear Mr. Director,
We represent the non-profit, educational-cultural association «Hellenic Society for Prenatal Education», which aims to prepare young people for their future parental role, starting from school age.
This programme is entitled: «Sexuality-Fertility-Parenthood, an inseparable unity», and Prot. no.: F.2.1/EX/101346/149068/D7 of 19 November 2021 and we invite the Principals of our High Schools to choose it...
For the preparation of teachers, but also for educational material, we have prepared 3 videos, one hour each, and we also offer a small 84-page scientific book with the same title: «Prenatal Education, Preparation for Parenthood, Sexuality-Fertility-Parenthood, an inseparable unity» by Ioanna Maris and colleagues.
We also offer, as an association, our full online or in-person support to resolve any queries.
We are ready to send you (free of charge, of course) our above mentioned approved book for your information and we hope that you will choose this program, which, for the first time, gives young people life knowledge that almost everyone will later have to apply, and which will lead our society to a new quality of health and values.
With excellent price
Our Scientific Team»
