Davao DepEd exec says sex should be taught to grade schoolers

Sun.Star: DAVAO CITY - Sex education should be taught in elementary especially in public schools, says Department of Education 11 Regional Director Teresa Susana Estigoy. Estigoy explained that as a lot of children drop out of high school and a number become parents, withholding this subject until the later years in high school will mean lessons not being heard by those who most need it. At least 40 percent of girls who enroll in first year high school are not able to make it all the way through senior year. "Some of these girls then resort to early marriage and bear multiple children," Estigoy said. Meanwhile, Department of Health-Southern Mindanao director, Dr. Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial said that sex education must be factual. "The parents should not talk about the birds and the bees," Rosell-Ubial added, "When children ask questions, we must give straight answers." According to the two directors, sex would not be taught in the context of how to do sex, but how sex would affect their lives. Population Commission-Southern Mindanao director, Maduh Damsani said that according to their statistics, a huge number of births are from young mothers, ranging from early teens to the early 20's. - Sun.Star