DepEd backs making sex education compulsory, standardized

February 7, 2023 | 3:06pm

High school students wait for their time in front Marikina High School in Marikina on November 2, 2022.

STAR / Walter Bollozos

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education expressed Tuesday its support for proposals in the Senate to make comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) compulsory in all levels of basic education and standardized in a bid to curb teenage pregnancy.

The DepEd said in its position paper read out before the Senate women and children panel that these bills “will surely help break the persistent taboo on discussing adolescent sexuality and reproductive health and ease the social stigma attached to it.”

It also backed safeguards against non-compliance, which the bills wish to impose by making the provision and delivery of CSE as a criteria for the a