by Cha
Coronel Datu
A 12 year
old being treated for STD ... an 8 year old raped by a 9 year old... a 13 year
old getting pregnant and then undergoing emergency caesarean section after
complications from labor... an 18 year old dying of severe infection after
self-inducing an abortion using 3 different methods...
Does one
need to be a Catholic or a non-Catholic to feel horrified by real life cases
like these in the Philippines?
One of
the highest pregnancy rates in the ASEAN... 1 in 10 women aged 15-19 already
mothers or pregnant with their first child... 1 in 5 unsafe abortions being
done on teenage or young mothers... 1 in 3 HIV infected individuals in the
country aged between 15-24... 1 in 5 maternal deaths are among adolescents...
62% of sexually transmitted infections also affecting adolescents...
What does
one do with these confronting statistics?
What does
one do about a train that's gone off the rails?
Well, for
starters, we need to tell young people how women become pregnant in the first
place. We need to inform them that young girls’ bodies are not yet fully
developed to cope with pregnancy and that the risk of maternal death is twice
as likely for teenage girls than for women in their 20s. We need to apprise
them of the consequences of irresponsible or risky sexual behavior. In short,
we need to provide them the necessary information that can help them prevent,
solve, and reduce problems related to their own reproductive health.
In 2006,
the Department of Education attempted to trial Sex Education classes in
Philippine schools but backed off and scrapped the program after encountering
strong opposition from the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.
On June
2010, just a few days before President Aquino's inauguration, the Dep Ed again
attempted to launch a pilot program; again amidst much protestation from the
CBCP and a lawsuit even thrown in by a parents group for good measure. Only a
month after it started, the new Dep Ed Secretary, Bro. Armin Luistro, announced
that the pilot testing was finished and that "he would create a group to
review the teaching of sex education in public schools as part of a two-year
general review of the basic education curriculum."
The
halftime score: CBCP -2, Dep Ed - 0
The
CBCP's objection to Sex Education classes in Philippine schools is premised on
their belief that "it (sex education) should be left to parents". In
June 2010 Msgr. Pedro Quitorio, CBCP Media Office Director stressed that
"parents, not schools, know best when their children are ready to
understand sexuality."
In a
January 31, 2011 Pastoral Letter vs. the RH Bill, the Bishops reiterate this
position in the following statement:
"We
condemn compulsory sex education that would effectively let parents abdicate
their primary role of educating their own children, especially in an area of
life – sexuality – which is a sacred gift of God."
But lo
and behold! Just this Aug 25th, the CBCP NASSA (National Secretariat for Social
Action- Justice and Peace) has announced in their website nassa.org.ph that
"beginning SY 2013 – 2014, Theology of the Body will be integrated into
Catholic schools’ curricula.”
According
to the same website, Theology of the Body is based on a series of lectures
given by Blessed John Paul II that focused on an integrated vision of man and
his sexuality. Its teachings will include "the body and the sexual
relationship itself (as) a symbol of God’s undying love for humanity."
Further
information on Theology of the Body may be found on theologyofthebody.com:
"Theology
of the Body for Teens is a dynamic faith formation program for teens and
pre-teens in Catholic schools, parish youth ministries, Religious Education,
Confirmation, and home-school settings. Using a great mix of stories, real-life
examples, activities, prayers, and relevant references to the culture, it goes
beyond traditional chastity programs by connecting the two hottest topics on
the planet--God and sex. "
"With
Blessed Pope John Paul II's compelling vision for love and life, and a language
they understand, Theology of the Body for Teens answers the questions teens and
pre-teens have about their own bodies, issues on sexual morality, and how they
are uniquely created for greatness."
So there
you go, Sex Education- the Catholic edition, is coming soon to Catholic schools
in the country in 2013.
The CBCP,
it would seem, has finally realised that parents, in fact, might need a bit of
help talking about sex with their own children.
So let's
not gloat or say I told you so, much as we may be tempted to; what matters is
that Catholic School adolescents will now have someone talking to them about
sexuality. That's more than a little over 1.3 million high school students in
the Philippines covered.
It may be
a completely different approach from the Dep Ed modules; more theology than
biology, that is. But it’s really better than nothing. The science curriculum
can hopefully fill in the gaps such as basic education about the reproductive
processes (also can be known henceforth as the biology of love) and puberty and
sexual behaviour.
Round 3
therefore goes to both the CBCP and Dep Ed.
But the
next one is all for Dep Ed's taking, if it manages to play its cards right.
With most
of the private schools now covered, it can focus on the over 5.5 million high
school students enrolled in public schools. All it really needs to do now is
implement their twice stalled Sex Education program for the public schools
alongside the implementation of the Theology of Love classes in the Catholic
schools beginning next year.
Having
mustered the political will to roll out implementation of the more complicated
K+12 program in 2012, there is no reason why Dep Ed should not be able apply
the same zeal and commitment in relaunching the Sex Education Program in public
schools in 2013. The public schools, after all, are under their full
supervision.
How can
one pass up on an opportunity like this?
Go Dep
Ed.
