DepEd explains sex education plan

By INA HERNANDO-MALIPOT
June 5, 2010
Sex education is not all about making love.

This clarification was made by the Department of Education (DepEd) last Friday after drawing strong opposition from the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) against the plan to teach sex education to elementary pupils and high school students when classes start on June 15.

The statement was made by Education Secretary Mona Valisno after Malacañang asked the DepEd to defer its plan to integrate sex education in the basic curriculum until consultations are done with Church leaders and after addressing the concerns of the CBCP.


Valisno clarified that classroom discussions on sex education that will be piloted in almost 160 schools — 79 public high schools and 80 elementary schools — is not about the sex act but “on the science of reproduction, physical care and hygiene, correct values and the norms of interpersonal relations to avoid pre-marital sex and teen-age pregnancy.”

She said the contents of the modules that will be integrated in core subjects are scientific, informative, and are not designed to titillate prurient interest. “For example in science, the reproductive system and reproductive cycle have always been part of the curriculum, including the changes that happen during puberty,” Valisno said.

The DepEd chief also emphasized that “the role of teachers is to educate young people on issues that directly affect them and empower them to make informed choices and decisions.”

Valisno said sex education will be integrated in science; Edukasyong Pantahanan at Pangkabuhayan (EPP); health; Heograpiya, Kasaysayan, at Sibika; and mathematics. Under Science, topics on the reproductive system, parts of the body, reproductive cycle, and puberty are discussed. EPP, on the other hand, will integrate proper behavior among and between peers of different genders.

The health component of MAPEH (Music, Arts, PE and Health) covers personal hygiene and reproductive health. Valisno elaborated that sex education will be taught in social studies topics under Heograpiya, Kasaysayan, at Sibika such as the position of religion on pre-marital sex and the norms when people of opposite sex interact. In mathematics, students will use data on issues like pre-marital sex, teenage pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections in their mathematical analysis and exercises in statistics.

“Among those who prepared the modules are psychologists because we want to ensure that specific topics for discussions will be made in the appropriate year levels,” she said. Also, the topics requiring a more mature audience are discussed in the latter years in high school.

Based on the reports from DepEd, two batches of teachers who will be using the modules have already been trained, while a third batch is being prepared for training this year.