Sex Education

All systems go for Sex Ed in high school
Morality. Constitutionality. Preparedness. Maturity of students. Will the implementation of sex education in pilot schools this school year finally put a stop to all these adverse issues?
By INA HERNANDO-MALIPOT
June 2, 2010, 2:46pm
It’s final. The Department of Education will integrate sex education as a subject in the basic curriculum of almost 150 schools this coming school year.
Much as it is already a done deal, issues about its full implementation has yet to be settled what with strong oppositions coming from various stakeholders, including the Catholic Church.
Education Secretary Mona Valisno said the DepEd has been strongly pushing for the integration of sex education in the basic education curriculum — specifically in elementary subjects — because there is a need to raise awareness of young people on sexuality, hygiene, interpersonal relationships, and gender issues and status.
Valisno said that sex education will help make the youth aware on the consequences of premarital sex and address the rising cases of sex-related diseases among young people.
“We have now reached an alarming rate because of lack of knowledge in the subject. The Philippines is currently witnessing an increase of new Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection among 15 to 24 year old Filipinos from 41 in 2007 to 218 in 2009,” she revealed.
Apart from rising cases of infection, Valisno explained that misperception about HIV is still prevalent among Filipino youth and more are engaging in pre-marital sex.
“Sex education in the basic curriculum is also very timely with all the distractions available for young students. There is nothing wrong with it since the topic is being taught and discussed in subjects like Science and Edukasyong Pantahan at Pangkabuhayan (EPP),” she said.
Valisno said it will be so much better if teachers in our schools will discuss sex education with students instead of letting them pick up ideas about sex from... [continues]

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