Gatchalian pushes for teaching reproductive health education | ABS-CBN

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Gatchalian pushes for teaching reproductive health education

Gatchalian pushes for teaching reproductive health education

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

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Teachers and school officials grab free reading materials regarding sex health education during the Health Information Dissemination Program at the Araullo Highschool held on October 01, 2019. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/FileTeachers and school officials grab free reading materials regarding sex health education during the Health Information Dissemination Program at the Araullo Highschool held on October 01, 2019. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — Senate Committee on Basic Education Chair Sherwin Gatchalian wants to scrap Comprehensive Sexuality Education in favor of Reproductive Health Education.

"Kasi kung akong ang tatanungin, dapat alisin na ito at palitan na ng Reproductive Health Education. I-suspend ngayon dahil pinag-aaralan nga nila yung legal at yung moral consequences. Pero klaro naman na hindi ito ang intention ng RH Law. So palitan na lang ng RH Education dahil yun ang intention ng RH law," Gatchalian said. 

Gatchalian stressed that the RH law, officially known as the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law, mandates Reproductive Health Education, not sexuality education. He does not see this as a step backward, as schools in other countries reportedly already teach sexuality education.

"I don't view this as a step backward. In fact, I view this as a step forward dahil when you talk about sex and sexuality, you need to be culturally sensitive. Hindi ‘yan pare-pareho sa lahat ng bansa. When you talk about sex and sexuality, iba sa Pilipinas, iba sa Muslim countries, iba sa Western countries," he said.

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"We are very family-oriented culture. We rely on our parents for information, especially at an early age. And we have to maintain that. Kaya ang approach also should be parent empowerment and education. Hindi lang tinuturuan yung bata. Hindi lang puro bata, bata, bata. Pati magulang dapat turuan rin natin. Dahil ang magulang, yan ang unang contact ng bata. At yan ang dapat talagang kumausap sa bata dahil meron silang interest bilang isang pamilya,” Gatchalian added.

Gatchalian led a Senate inquiry on the implementation of CSE as mandated by Department of Education Order 31. Gatchalian believes that CSE implementation has been confusing and opens doors for inappropriate topics.

"Number two, magulo yung implementation. Kung magulo ang implementation, maguguluhan yung mga teachers na magtuturo nito. Dahil yung mga teachers natin, binibigyan din sila ng leeway para ituro itong comprehensive sexuality education na ngayon pinapatupad. So ang pwede mangyari yan dahil magulo yung implementation, baka gumamit sila ng ibang references," Gatchalian explained.

Gatchalian notes that not all teachers are trained to teach CSE.

"At pangatlong na-pick up ko rin na yung mga teachers rin natin hindi lahat na-train. Importante dito sa pagpapatapad ng comprehensive sexuality education na-train ang ating mga guro. Dahil hindi nga sila naturuan during pre-service, during college days nila. Hindi sila na-train para magturo ng comprehensive sexuality education. Ngayon lang sila tinitrain. Ang problema, hindi lahat ng guro ay na-train dito sa CSE na ito,” Gatchalian said.

When asked by Senate reporters about the process of reviewing and scrapping the order, Gatchalian said the order maybe cancelled in favor of the issuance of a new order replacing CSE with RH. Gatchalian said this will be easier to implement since teachers have long taught RH.

"Well, itong DO-31, kakanselahin nila ito at maglalabas sila ng bagong department order revising or implementing yung RH education instead of the CSE. And magkakaroon ulit ng detalye kung paano i-implemento. Mas madali na itong implement dahil marami sa ating mga teachers trained na sa sex education. Dahil yung sex education, matagal nang tinuturo sa ating bansa, no?” Gatchalian said.

Gatchalian said he has spoken of his views to Education Secretary Sonny Angara. The DepEd previously announced that the order is under review though it has not suspended implementation.

Gatchalian believes the RH law will be sufficient to address the proliferation of teenage pregnancy.

Meanwhile, Gatchalian bared that as many as eight senators will ask questions during the period of interpellation for Senate Bill 1979 or the proposed Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy law, which triggered the discussions on the CSE.

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