Ripple effect
ARE we ready for Comprehensive Sexuality Education? Many countries acknowledge the importance of equipping young people with knowledge and skills to make responsible choices for their lives. This time, the Department of Education has pledged to institute a comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) program in both elementary and secondary schools. CSE is a curriculum based process of teaching and learning about the cognitive, emotional, physical and social aspects of sexuality.
The CSE program was based on research conducted by the UNFPA and the Center for Health Solutions and Innovations, Phils. (CHSI) on the readiness of school principals and teachers to implement CSE. The result shows that most of the respondents all over the country were generally aware and have knowledge about CSE.
During the conduct of the study, the respondents would share cases where students are at risk of teen pregnancy but, while many of them see the value of discussing CSE, most do not find themselves fully ready to implement it. For one, there is a dearth on CSE resources.
In the study areas covered, the teachers and principals have pointed out the need for an orientation session on CSE to parents, community and even teachers in other subject areas to ensure acceptance on its implementation.
There are still a few groups who would tend to argue that sexuality education gives young people a false sense of security. Many of the parents that I have spoken with, tend to be in denial that their children could be experimenting with sex. Most of them are also of the opinion that the mere knowledge on the use of condoms and other contraceptives could encourage children to early sexual debut.
The reverse is true. Teen-age pregnancy remains relatively high anywhere. This narrow understanding of CSE has limited the productive opportunities of teenagers because of early marriage and childbirth. Still, we do not discount the practices of child marriage and early childbirth among some of the indigenous peoples which have yet to fully understand its risks. The lack of education and information, as well as other services and opportunities for them, remains a challenge.
Would parents welcome CSE education? Given the availability of age-appropriate information and of well-trained teachers and principals, this could create a ripple effect in a community in which sexuality, remains to be a taboo subject even in the homes, mainly because parents do not know how to discuss it.
In an era where children and youth could access information anywhere online, the unprecedented move of the DepEd to introduce CSE education is an assurance that appropriate school-based sexuality education could be provided to students. We need this ripple-effect to change mindsets and positively alter lives. Email comments to roledan@gmail.com