DepEd now reviewing sex education lesson guides

The Department of Education (DepEd) is now reviewing its controversial sex education lesson guides after getting criticized by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

In a statement, DepEd officer-in-charge Fe Hidalgo said they want to clarify the status of adolescent reproductive health lesson guides after getting much flak from the Catholic Church.

"Besides putting the use of these lesson guides on hold, they are also being re-evaluated based on the feedback from concerned individuals and groups. It should be emphasized, however, that the lesson guides are meant for teachers and not for use by students," Hidalgo said.

Hidalgo also said the DepEd welcomes the concern of the church, which is the reason why the education department is asking for a consultative meeting with church officials and with Dr. Angelita Aguirre of the Makati Medical Center who had also had raised several concerns on the issue.

"We share the church’s concern over such a sensitive issue and we hope that we can work things out with them," Hidalgo said.

The DepEd said the teachers’ guide on adolescent reproductive health is being piloted in two Metro Manila schools.

"Contrary to some reports, the use of the lesson guides on adolescent reproductive health have been put on hold while consultations with some sectors are being arranged," Hidalgo said.

The lesson guides were given to two secondary schools in Metro Manila — the Parañaque High School and Pateros National High School, which will serve as pilot schools for the implementation of the program.

Only 40 lesson guides were distributed to the teachers in the said schools. They are intended for use of teachers in the instruction of the subject, and not for students.

Earlier this week, Dr. Hidalgo ordered the use of the lesson guides be stopped until a detailed evaluation and additional consultations were done. — Sandy Araneta