The draft programme, developed by the Directorate-General for Health (DGS), entered public consultation this week and will remain open for feedback until 16 June.

The proposal forms part of a wider national strategy linking health, education, municipalities and civil society organisations in an effort to strengthen health promotion among children and young adults.

Under the plan, at least 40% of schools would be expected to reinforce projects related to sexuality education and integrate these themes more directly into school health initiatives.

Subjects outlined in the proposal include body development, emotional well-being, assertiveness, sexual consent, gender identity and diversity.

The programme arrives roughly one year after the politically contentious revision of Portugal’s Citizenship Education curriculum, which generated debate around how social and identity-related topics should be addressed in classrooms.

The new National School Health Programme also proposes a restructuring of school health teams, with stronger multidisciplinary support expected across the education system.

According to the draft document, teams could include nurses, public health doctors, psychologists, oral health specialists and nutritionists working more closely with schools.

The 40-page proposal sets out health priorities for children and young people from early childhood education through to higher education institutions, significantly expanding the scope of previous versions of the programme.

Universities and higher education establishments were not previously included within the programme’s main target population.