The Philippines is predominantly a Christian country, the center of Christianity in Southeast Asia. A home where being a conservative person lingers as tradition. But prostitution remains invincible, heightening figures of early or unwanted pregnancy, cybersex businesses sprouting anywhere and the alarming rate of HIV increases. Some people said that these are just few of the many problems which resulted from lack of information and zero knowledge in sex education that lead to the proposed inclusion of sex education to both elementary and high school level which evoked varying opinions, huge deals of arguments and debates in Philippine senate.
According to a Department of Education (DepEd) official, the primary aim of sexual education in the K-12 curriculum is not about sex, but about matters that affect one’s personal safety, hygiene and well-being that detractors of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law of 2012 (RH Law) have denounced for supposedly teaching adolescents and grade-school pupils about the sex act.My question, is the school the ideal one to teach sexual education? What if when the so-called “sex education” does not really become education but simply “information” which can be mishandled and can end up with sad and catastrophic consequence?
A leader from one of religious sects states that “We believe that serious hazards are involved in entrusting to the schools the teaching of this vital and important subject to our children. This responsibility cannot wisely be left to society, nor the schools; nor can the responsibility be shifted to the church. It is the responsibility of parents to see that they fully perform their duty in this respect”.
The students should talk to their parents. Ask them their questions. It will honor them, and they will discover that their parents are the persons who can best answer their candid and honest questions. When sex education is presented in school, the students must discuss it with their parents and together keep things in perspective.
By: Carmelita F. Cuizon, LPT
