CPD welcomes possible inclusion of comprehensive sex education in basic education

The Commission on Population and Development (CPD, formerly POPCOM) on Thursday backed the proposed addition of comprehensive sex education to the basic education curriculum, to address teen pregnancy and other problems.

At the PTV public briefing, CPD Executive Director Lisa Grace Bersales raised concerns about teenage pregnancies in the country, particularly among those aged 10 to 14.

In January, CPD reported that the number of pregnancies among 10 to 14-year-olds was still high in 2022 at more than 2,000. Meanwhile, among 15- to 19-year-olds, pregnancy declined from 8.6% in 2017 to 5.4% in 2022, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

“Pero tinatawag pa rin natin silang rare event. Hindi naman gano'n sila kadami talaga kumpara sa buong populasyon. Kaya lang syempre, nalulungkot tayo na meron tayong mga batang babae, adolescents…para bang mas mahirap sa kanila ang makamit ang magandang edukasyon kasi nag-aalaga na sila ng bata,” Bersales said.

(We still call them rare events. They are not really that many compared to the whole population. However, we are sad that we have young girls who may have a hard time getting a good education because they are already taking care of their children.)

“Kapag ang adolescent ay nanganganak, nanganganib din ang kanyang health at health ng kanyang bata at dadalhin niya hanggang sa pagtanda itong mga consequences na masyadong siyang maagang nanga-anak,” she added.

(When an adolescent gives birth, her health and the health of her child are also at risk and she will carry the consequences of having a child too early into adulthood.)

This is why, Bersales said, they consider the plan of the Department of Education (DepEd) to integrate comprehensive sex education in its curriculum as “good news.” 

She said this would help young learners learn about sexual health and behaviors.

“Nagsabi na si VP Sara mismo na isusulong na ngayon ng lahat ng eskwelahan ang tinatawag na comprehensive sexuality education na tuturuan ang ating mga kabataan, babae at lalaki, kung paano nila mapangalagaan ang kanilang katawan in terms of sexuality,” she said.

(We have good news. VP Sara herself said that all schools will now push for comprehensive sexuality education that will teach our young girls and boys how they can take care of their bodies in terms of sexuality.)

Based on its draft curriculum for Kindergarten to Grade 10 (K-10), DepEd plans to teach learners lessons on sexual and reproductive health rights starting at the Grade 4 level, where students are usually aged eight to 10.

Grade 5 students, meanwhile, will receive lectures on healthy ways of managing puberty-related changes, and communicating needs and respecting boundaries in relationships.

Respecting basic gender concepts and all sexual identities will be taught in the third quarter of Grade 6.

Topics on social development will be explained in Grade 7, while those related to sexually transmitted infections, such as HIV and AIDS, will be for Grade 8 students.

Grade 9 students, typically aged 13 to 15, will be given lessons on ways to demonstrate responsible sexual behaviors and sexual and gender-based violence.

A bill seeking to teach comprehensive sex education in schools is also up for deliberations in the Senate. — BM, GMA Integrated News