Sexuality education lessons provide comprehensive information about sexuality and reproduction especially to the youth, making it a vital component in promoting public health and reducing issues that ultimately lead to mortality and morbidity. Implementation of this public policy would benefit people of all ages. Specifically, this will target the students who are in the period of coping with the changes they undergo, and are in the process of discovering themselves and their relationships with others.
According to the Department of Education (2018), this policy allows for adequate knowledge about reproductive health in the youth. This will help them make responsible decisions, advocate for gender equality and empowerment, realize their values and attitude, and prevent risks that lead to poor health outcomes (Department of Education, 2018). According to the Department of Education, its implementation is also centered on controlling teenage pregnancy, population growth, and sexually-transmitted diseases (Montemayor, 2019), leading to the improvement of health. According to Griffin (2021), a disadvantage of sex education in schools is that it can conflict with a person’s values and religious beliefs regarding premarital intercourse, as it provides information not only on abstinence but also on safe sex. They also said that the personal view of parents, educators, and religious leaders regarding the topic may affect its implementation.
As a predominantly Catholic country, the majority of the Philippines still remains conservative. The topic of sexuality is still considered taboo by conservative and religious groups, which may pose challenges and debates in the implementation of the policy. However, by ensuring that the advantages and purposes of sexuality education lessons are thoroughly explained to the public and the educators are well-trained about the delivery of the topics, its implementation can hopefully still be possible and followed in the locality.
References
Department of Education. (2018, August 4). Comprehensive sexuality education: Developing responsible youth vs rising risks. Department of Education. https://www.deped.gov.ph/2018/08/04/comprehensive-sexuality-education-developing-responsible-youth-vs-rising-risks/
Griffin, J. (2022, January 4). Pros and cons of sex education in Schools. Cfequity. http://www.cfequity.org/pros-and-cons-of-sex-education-in-schools/
Montemayor, M. T. (2019, April 4). Integrating sex education in schools to empower learners. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1066447