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DOH offers help in DepEd sex education content

Rhodina Villanueva - The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) yesterday said it is ready to collaborate with the Department of Education (DepEd) and assist teachers in improving the content of sex education to ensure that the subject is more comprehensible and appropriate for students.

“The practice of teaching, that’s the expertise of DepEd, but when it comes to content or what needs to be taught to students (concerning sex education), the DOH is very ready to help,” DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo told a radio interview.

He mentioned that he had reviewed the current curriculum and found it to be too technical as it includes scientific and medical terminologies that may be difficult for students to understand.

“That is DOH’s turf… We are ready to help in updating modules and content,” said Domingo.

The health official acknowledged that “DepEd people will still be the ones to weigh in what can be done so that the persisting (negative) culture can be changed for the better (with) education as a tool.”

Domingo said he learned that there are schools with different teachers assigned specifically for music, arts and physical education but no dedicated teacher for health.

He said he was also informed that there are PE teachers teaching students about health and sex education, adding that health matters such as non-communicable diseases and hypertension are also being handled and discussed by them.

“It reached me that PE teachers are also the ones teaching students about health. Not that I am underestimating them, I salute them for their work and training because physical activity is important but it is unfair for a basketball coach to suddenly talk about fallopian tubes and ovaries,” Domingo said.

With this information, the DOH official reiterated that the department is open to discussions about comprehensive sexuality education and is looking forward to the updated version of Senate Bill 1979, also known as the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill.

“What Sen. Risa Hontiveros is doing is a step in the right direction since (it’s important that the issue) is being discussed (as) it really needs to be discussed,” Domingo said.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

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