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Importance of Sex Education in Schools

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The document discusses the importance of integrating sexuality education into the Philippine school curriculum. It notes that the Philippines has a high teenage pregnancy rate and lack of kn…

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The Importance of Sexuality Education in the School Curriculum 

          In the words of Gaby Agbulos, “Having no education about sex will not stop
teenagers from having sex; it’ll just stop them from staying safe,” the speaker
illustrated the common misconceptions about Sexuality Education in the Philippines.
Sexual engagement has been a prevalent problem, especially for Filipino teens as it
is one of the topics that the issues of morality are being tackled.  It is assumed
that chastity is an outdated virtue that young people can no longer observe
because they are a product of their sexually permissive atmosphere. According to
the 2019 Philippine Statistics Authority data, a total of 1,673,923 live births were
tabulated which equates to 16 births per thousand population or a birth rate of
15.6. This by means infer to the lack of knowledge in contraceptives and generally
lower level of sex education of the Filipino teens.

In a country that revolves around a conservative culture, a surge of teenage


pregnancy is present. Along with the rising of Sexually Transmitted Diseases
(STD), it has been urged to integrate sex education into the curriculum. Better
access to sex education should be implemented in schools to eradicate the number
of unfavorable outcomes and to develop the skills and knowledge that may affect a
child’s sexual behavior.

         Education is a deliberate, systematic mechanism for imparting information


and skills, as well as influencing a person's developmental path. In implementing sex
education, it offers an environment where students can rely on the given
information in order to help and protect themselves. Young adults need knowledge
and the appropriate resources for the reason that when they are not
knowledgeable about sex, they turn to the media or even pornography for details
because their parents aren't interested the topic of sexual intercourse. Sex
education can help with psychosocial growth and well-being during puberty and
adulthood by encouraging sexual learning. Sexual illiteracy may lead to a variety of
health and social problems, including STDs and unintended pregnancy.

          Upon the discussion about sex education, some parents might have to
disagree with the topic as it may be too sensitive for the students to absorb,
whether for religious reasons or the desire to preserve the children’s innocence.
They believe that this type of conversation and issues should be kept within the
household as they know their children better. Some parents might teach their
child everything about sex education, some might only teach them the bare
necessities but regardless of what the parents might teach, they are certain that
the conversations should always be a family decision and not the school.
         According to a study, the more knowledge kids have about sex, the better
off they will be—especially for young people who might otherwise feel marginalized
in society. The issue about sex education is inclusive for all. However, it is
inevitable that there are cases that parents might be embarrassed to talk about
the topic and are often having difficulty accepting that some children tend to be
uncomfortable in dealing with sexual topics, especially towards their parents that
also results in the lack of guidance for the children. It is not only beneficial to
those parents who are good at nurturing their children but also to those parents
who are conservative about the topic.

          In the context of the Filipino community, sex education aims to prepare the
Filipino youth to become responsible, productive, and to be knowledgeable on the
concept of sex. In 2016, the Philippines was reported as the highest increase in
population in Asia because of the number of teenage pregnancies, suggesting that
in every ten young Filipino women, one of them is already a mother. Therefore, the
government firmly believes that executing sexuality education could help in
addressing the issues in population growth, domestic violence, sexual exploitation,
and the likes as it teaches the responsibility of a person and their limitations.
Moreover, the student who engages themselves in sex education will be able to
have preventive awareness on the concerns of family abuses, sexual exploitation
and the ability to take preventive measures on how to say no when involved in
sexual intercourse.

          Even with the provision of sex education in the curriculum, the students
being exposed to such a sensitive topic as sex is inevitable given that there are a
lot of media outlets in the country that they can access, exposing them to
different messages related to sex that may be unclear to them. As a result, they
can misinterpret sexual messages in social media and develop incorrect ideas about
their bodies without having the necessary information. This is especially true when
it comes to media representations of men and women's bodies, which are often
held up as role models for children, particularly girls, and can lead to eating
disorders and low self-confidence.

          It is a fact that at some point students are able to access these pieces of
information through different sources. Hence, strengthening the implementation
of sex education as well as the topics of family planning and the development of a
person from childhood to adulthood is necessary. It enables young students to
recognize and understand that they are not alone in their growth development. As
they progress through their adolescent years, sex education will serve as a
reference, teaching them about puberty and sexual development in both males and
females.

         The students being encouraged in sex when they have the knowledge about it
is a big misconception. Comprehensive research by the World Health Organization
(2011), has exhibited that young people are able to have information about
contraceptives and abstinence and not just the subject of sexual intercourse.
These interventions have been shown to be successful in decreasing the frequency
of sexual activity and the number of sexual partners among those who have already
had sex, as well as in encouraging young people to use condoms and contraceptives
more regularly.

         On the contrary, many are still against sex education as it brings numerous
controversies between the arguments for complete abstinence, methods of
contraception, and the resources for proper sex education in schools. A lot of
people perceive it as an encouragement for students at a very young age to take
part in any sexual activity knowing that there are ways on how to have safe sex and
that it may drive them more to explore the said activit.  Additionally, upon
employing it in the curriculum, teachers may feel forced to fend for themselves
when it comes to teaching sex education due to a lack of resources and
inconsistent procedures in schools.

            In the statement of Dr. Masilang, sex education can be incorporated into


the curriculum in a variety of ways, both natural and by purposive means. It will be
taught as part of Science, Health, Social Studies, and Values Education due to its
natural integration. For purposive integration, it can be done through Mathematics
with the statistics of the issue and the Language subjects as a part of their new
vocabulary. The DepEd officials affirm that the guidance counselors and the
teaching faculties are competent enough to handle the subject as they are
equipped and with adequate knowledge and skills.

          In conclusion, improving the curriculum by implementing sex education


enforces not just the knowledge and consciousness of the students but also slowly
eradicates some of the social concerns in the community. How a person or a group
handles sensitive topics like sex necessitates a great deal of awareness and
communication. At some point in an individual's life, they are sheltered as they
grow up. As a result, it's critical to learn all there is to know about something as
important as sexual health.

 
 

SOURCES:

Andrade, J. I. (2016, August 26). Sex education not about sex–DepEd.


[Link]. [Link]
sex-deped (Links to an external site.)
Gaby Agbulos. (2017). Sex Education: Do Filipino Teens Need It? Retrieved
October 20, 2020, from [Link]
website: [Link]
need-it-a1582-20170617 (Links to an external site.)

Gautam-Adhikary, S. D. (2011). Myths and Facts about Comprehensive Sex


Education: Research Contradicts Misinformation and Distortions. Issues at a
Glance. Advocates for Youth.

Ordinario, C. (2020, July 5). PHL has one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing


populations - UN report | Cai Ordinario.
BusinessMirror. [Link]
southeast-asias-fastest-growing-populations-un-report/#:%7E:text=PHL%20has
%20one%20of%20Southeast%20Asia’s%20fastest%2Dgrowing%20populations
%20%E2%80%93%20UN%20report&text=In%20its%20State%20of
%20the,populous%20country%20in%20Southeast%20Asia  (Links to an external
site.).

Common questions

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Parents play a crucial role in sexuality education by initiating discussions about sexual health and morality with their children. However, they face challenges such as personal discomfort discussing these topics, cultural and religious barriers, and differing levels of knowledge about sexual health. Despite some parents believing that such conversations should occur at home, many lack the necessary comfort and information, pushing the responsibility to schools to ensure comprehensive education .

Media consumption can negatively influence Filipino teenagers' understanding of sexual health by presenting distorted or sensationalized portrayals of sexuality that may be confusing or misleading. This can result in misinformation and misinterpreted sexual messages, affecting teens' self-esteem and body image. Implementing comprehensive sex education helps counter these effects by providing accurate information and critical thinking skills, enabling teens to critically evaluate media content and form healthier attitudes and behaviors regarding sexual health .

The challenges of implementing sex education in Filipino schools include potential parental resistance due to cultural conservatism and religious beliefs, as well as the sensitivity of the topic which can lead to embarrassment or discomfort. Limited resources and inconsistent teaching procedures also pose significant hurdles. On the other hand, the benefits include reducing the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancies, enhancing psychosocial development and well-being, and fostering informed decision-making among teenagers .

Sex education could influence gender-related issues and stereotypes in the Philippines by challenging traditional gender norms and presenting equitable views of male and female roles in sexual and social contexts. Educating young people about gender diversity and equality can promote more inclusive attitudes, reduce gender-based violence and discrimination, and improve relationships by fostering mutual respect and understanding between genders .

Misconceptions around sex education include beliefs that it encourages premature sexual activity among students by teaching them how to have safe sex. Such beliefs may lead to resistance against its implementation from parents and educators who fear it might lead young people to explore sexual activities prematurely. However, studies show that comprehensive sex education actually decreases the frequency of sexual activity among teens and encourages responsible behavior, such as the use of condoms and contraceptives .

Sexual illiteracy can negatively impact the psychosocial health of Filipino adolescents by leading to a lack of understanding about their bodies, relationships, and sexual health, contributing to issues such as anxiety, low self-esteem, and inappropriate sexual behavior. Adolescents may turn to unreliable sources for information, supporting misconceptions and risky behaviors, ultimately affecting their mental health and well-being during critical developmental stages .

The lack of sexuality education can lead to adverse social and health outcomes for Filipino teenagers by fostering sexual illiteracy, which increases the risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and unintended pregnancies. Without accurate information, teenagers might rely on distorted or incorrect sources such as media or peers, leading to misconceptions about sexual health and behavior. This lack of knowledge can impede psychosocial development, potentially resulting in increased cases of domestic violence, sexual exploitation, and long-term health issues .

Integrating sex education into the curriculum can gradually transform societal attitudes towards youth development in Filipino culture by promoting more open discussions about sexual health and relationships. It challenges traditional views by informing young people about responsible sexual behavior and their rights, potentially decreasing stigmas related to discussing sexual matters. This shift can lead to a more informed and responsible youth population, decreasing issues such as teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases .

Integrating sexuality education into the school curriculum can potentially reduce teenage pregnancy rates in the Philippines by providing young people with knowledge about contraceptives, abstinence, and safe sexual practices, thereby preventing such outcomes. This education helps thwart reliance on often inaccurate media or peer information about sex, reduces misconceptions, and equips teens with skills for making informed decisions regarding their sexual behavior, thereby lowering teenage pregnancies .

Effective strategies for integrating sex education across various subjects include embedding relevant topics within existing subjects such as Science, Health, Social Studies, and Values Education naturally. Additionally, purposeful integration can be achieved through subjects like Mathematics, utilizing statistics related to sex education, and Language, using sexual health vocabulary. Training educators and equipping them with adequate resources ensures consistency and competency in teaching such sensitive topics across disciplines .

The Importance of Sexuality Education in the School Curriculum            In the words of Gaby Agbulos, “Having no education
         According to a study, the more knowledge kids have about sex, the better off they will be—especially for young peop
reference, teaching them about puberty and sexual development in both males and females.          The students being encoura
        SOURCES: Andrade, J. I. (2016, August 26). Sex education not about sex–DepEd. INQUIRER.Net. https://newsinfo.inquire

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