DepEd defends sex education program

The Department of Education (DepEd) yesterday assured the public that its approach to sex education in public schools responds to the needs of students in a "culturally sensitive" way amid objections from family rights and religious groups against the implementation of the new framework.

- By NEIL JAYSON SERVALLOS

Education Secretary Sonny Angara acknowledged the objections raised against the Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) but stressed how the agency has been working with experts to ensure that its programs are "effective and culturally sensitive."

CSE seeks to address teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and gender-based violence.

Recently, family rights groups, including the National Coalition for the Family and the Constitution (NCFC) and Project Dalisay, criticized the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill for adopting the CSE framework.

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.

One of the main points of contention raised by the groups is a provision in the current version of the bill that allows sexually active adolescents to access reproductive health services, goods and facilities without parental consent.

The bill includes a provision for confidentiality, meaning parents may not be notified of their children's activities.

Groups have also raised concerns that if the bill is enacted, it could include versions of the CSE framework that teach concepts of self-pleasure to children as young as four years old.

However, Angara stated that the DepEd is not implementing any curriculum that teaches such concepts to young students.

Against CSE