Comprehensive Sexuality Education to teach students respect for ‘other forms of families’

The Department of Education (DepEd) is aiming to teach students to respect "other forms of family," such as single-parent families and same-sex parent families, as it sets to implement its Comprehensive Sexuality Education process in all public and private schools.

DepEd has already released  its Department Order 31, which contains the implementing guidelines for the new teaching process, according to a 24 Oras report by Ian Cruz on Thursday.

It aims to educate students in a bid to prevent early pregnancy and sexual violence, and halt the spread of HIV.

However, DepEd also stressed that students should also learn how to respect "other forms of family," a reality in today's society.

"What we teach our children is that there are other forms of families and even if they are different, they should learn to respect such other forms of families," said Education Secretary Leonor Briones.

Irish Baco, a single mom to an eight-year-old, welcomes the DepEd's advocacy.

"Magandang step po iyan. Ang pinakamaganda po 'yung respect at saka 'yung walang nagja-judge kasi hindi naman po perpekto ang buhay ng tao," said Baco.

Joan Mendoza, who joins his partner in raising his partner's niece, also expressed approval of the DepEd initiative.

"Mas maganda 'yun kasi at least para wala nang may mga kinukutya-kutya na bata, 'di ba? Na 'Bakit ganiyan mga magulang mo parehas na babae, parehas na lalaki?'" he said.

At Kamuning Elementary School in Quezon City, teaching respect for the family structure of each student is already included in the lessons.

"Sinasabi ko sa kanila, 'O kayo kung kumpleto ka, kung may nanay at tatay ka magpasalamat ka, pero hindi ibig sabihin ang kaklase mo o kaibigan mo na nanay lang meron, walang tatay ay kukutyain mo na siya o ibu-bully mo na siya, so kailangan n'ya ng love din," said teacher Gerlan Gania.

Among the core contents of the teaching process are the seven values of:

• self-knowledge/self-respect
• self-protection
• non-judgment
• respect/concern for others/empathy
• positive attitude towards sexuality
• responsibility
• independence

It is important that children learn the values promoted by the Comprehensive Sexuality Education program at an early age, said DepEd.

Otherwise, said Briones, "'Yung prejudice and discrimination against those with different orientations, those with different faiths, different religions, different political beliefs, they will bring it along with them when they grow up, and this results in so much complication in society." — Jamil Santos/BM, GMA News