A survey by the Health Promotion Unit among secondary school students in Malta and Gozo was not allowed in Church schools because the Church authorities “objected to the format of some questions” on sexual behaviour but not the subject matter itself.

The Healthy Living Survey/Questionnaire had to be held by the Health Promotion Department of the Health Division, with the approval of the Director General of Education, between 20 and 24 March in all state and church schools.

TVM this week revealed that the questionnaire was not completed by students in Church schools because the authorities objected to the wording of questions related to the students’ sexual preferences and activities.

It is understood that two schools did complete the questionnaire but the data was not passed on to the Health Division after the Church authorities objected to one section.

When contacted yesterday, a Curia spokesman confirmed that the survey was not carried out in Church schools “because of the way some questions were worded” and not because of the subject matter.

“This was done in the best interests of the students and the Curia believed that the questions asked were inappropriate for the age groups that the survey was targeting.

“The Curia believes that the parents of the students will agree with the Curia’s decision, which was taken based on advice given by the Church’s education secretariat,” the spokesman said.

When asked why the survey was not filled in all the same but certain questions removed, the Curia spokesman said that either the survey was completed in full or not at all.

He could not confirm that two schools had completed the questionnaire.

State schools, however, were given clear guidelines on who should complete the questionnaire.

In a circular to all state schools on 15 March, the director of planning and development within the education division advised schools not to give the full survey to Form 1 students and to remove one of the pages.

“Please note that when the questionnaire is presented to Form 1 students, Page 17 should be removed. However, the whole booklet should be given to Form 5 students.

“In the case of Form 3 students, the removal or not of Page 17 will be left to the discretion of the Head of School depending on the type of student being catered for in that particular school,” the circular said.

Replying to questions, the education division said that the survey questions were discussed by the division and the health promotion department.

The circular, the division added, was based on recommendations made during these meetings and with the approval of the Health Promotion Department.