DepEd: Comprehensive sex education to develop responsible youth

MANILA, Philippines — The planned integration of an age-appropriate and culture-sensitive sex education in the basic elementary and high school curriculum will develop responsible Filipino youth who are aware of risks and issues involving reproductive health, according to the Department of Education (DepEd).

Education Secretary Leonor Briones said there is a need to introduce a comprehensive sexuality education policy to students to curb rising incidences of early pregnancy, sexual violence and human-immunodeficiency virus among young Filipinos.

“The need to promptly arrest the surge in these cases is increasingly becoming urgent. The young generation is really at risk,” she said.

“That’s why it is imperative to enable them to develop into responsible adolescents capable of making rational decisions based on adequate information and better understanding of reproductive health,” she added.

Briones recently approved a department order establishing a comprehensive sexuality education policy aimed at providing students with appropriate life skills that can advance gender equality and empowerment, clarify their values and attitude and reduce risks related to poor health outcomes.

The policy is designed to ensure that the learners are receiving comprehensive and appropriate information that can advance gender equality and empowerment.

Based on the order, the comprehensive sexuality education will have seven core topics: human body and human development; personhood, healthy relationships; sexuality and sexual behaviors; sexual and reproductive health; personal safety; and gender, culture and human rights.

The topics aim to develop values including self-knowledge and self-respect, self-protection, non-judgement, respect and concern for others, positive attitude toward sexuality, responsibility and independence

The core topics will be integrated in learning areas such as Music, Arts, Physical Education and Health; Araling Panlipunan; Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao; Science; and Personal Development.

DepEd said discussions of the topics may also be integrated in other learning areas and grade levels.

“The teaching and learning objectives logically spiral upward, beginning with more basic information, simple cognition tasks and skills activities gradually progressing in complexity,” read the policy.