Sex education 'very, very, very important'

Marcos backs CSE in schools to address teen pregnancies

- By HELEN FLORES

Sexuality education is necessary to address the rising cases of teenage pregnancy in the country, President Marcos said yesterday.

Marcos made the remarks when asked for his views on the controversial Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) being implemented by schools pursuant to Department of Education Order 31.

"What does sexuality education mean? You're a male or a female, that's it," the President said in an interview in Leyte.

Marcos cited the increasing numbers of adolescent girls and young women giving birth and the rising cases of sexually transmitted diseases in the country.

"These are all of the things that we need to address. And so, the teaching of this in our schools is very, very, very important," the President said.

"And to make young people, especially, knowledgeable about what are the options that are truly available to us, and what the consequences are - what the consequences are of having a child too soon, too early," he said.

"Children having children is a very difficult situation for both the child and the parent," the President noted.

Marcos said education is the most important service that government can provide to the people.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara has assured the public that its approach to sex education in public schools responds to the needs of students in a “culturally sensitive” way.

The CSE is a framework promoted by United Nations agencies like the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the United Nations Children’s Fund and the United Nations Population Fund.

It focuses on a sexual rights-based and inclusive approach to help younger people make safe and responsible choices.