INTEGRATION OF CSE IN SUBJECTS, EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

REGINA G. BERMUDO

The Department of Education is now working on updates and improvement of policy guidelines on the implementation of the Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) integrated with subjects and extra-curricular activities.

According to the DepEd, it is important to integrate sexuality education lessons in public elementary and high schools to curb the incidences of teenage pregnancy, population growth, and sexual diseases.

In an interview over TV recently, an official of DepEd said they want CSE integrated with existing subjects, as well as in the different activities in school.

The DepEd issued the CSE policy guidelines last year with the aim to ensure that learners receive comprehensive and appropriate information that can advance gender equality and empowerment.

Teachers, school principals, and other education stakeholders are expected to make teaching and learning more relevant, meaningful and useful to learners through the policy guidelines.

The topics would be integrated in such learning areas as Araling Panlipunan, Physical Education and Health, Science, and Personal Development.

For instance, in the science subject, where parts of the body are discussed, the concept of privacy, harassment, and good relationship can be integrated. In a way, values education comes in.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey, overall, 9 percent of women aged 15 years to 19 years have begun childbearing: 7 percent have had a live birth and 2 percent were pregnant.

The proportion of teenagers who have begun childbearing rises rapidly with age, from 1 percent at age 15 years to 22 percent at age 19 years.

--oOo—

The author is Teacher II at Dau Elementary School