MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) has already turned over to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) the controversial sex education modules that will guide teachers in teaching reproductive health to students.
Education Secretary Mona Valisno said a review by the CBCP of the modules will hopefully reassure the Catholic Church hierarchy that the modules are appropriate.
Valisno said CBCP’s Bishop Oscar Cruz had informed her that the modules were now with the CBCP’s Commission on the Family and Life.
DepEd has repeatedly explained to the public that their sex education learning modules focus on adolescence, health and wellness, and proper values and character development.
Valisno added that they will also include lesson guides in spiritual development as recommended by Bishops Reuben Abante and Efraim Tendero of the Presidential Council for Values Formation.
The DepEd is currently facing a strong Catholic Church lobby against its program to integrate reproductive health or sex education lessons in the basic education curriculum. Basic education covers all the levels of elementary and high school.
It will be recalled that a class suit has even been filed against Valisno and some other DepEd officials by a group believed to be backed by the Catholic Church before the Quezon City regional trial court last week.
Valisno maintains that DepEd’s modules that will mainly serve as a guide to teachers on integrating sex education in various subjects and are carefully prepared to suit the understanding level of students from the fifth grade to fourth year high school.
“Child psychologists were part of the team that developed these modules and we are careful that what is contained in the learning modules are appropriate to their age level,” Valisno said earlier.
She also said that during a forum with the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) and in a dialogue with the members of the Presidential Council for Values Formation (PCVF), parents who were present agreed that schools should teach sex education.
“We are here to build the child’s social, cultural and spiritual foundation and we need everyone’s support to make it effective,” Valisno said.