DepEd disputes senatorial bet's claim on sex education

There is nothing in the 1987 Constitution that explicitly states that schools cannot teach about sex and reproductive health, the Department of Education said on Tuesday. In a statement, Education assistant secretary Jonathan Malaya disputed the claims of Ang Kapatiran senatorial bet Jo Aurea Imbong who said the Charter provides that only parents must teach their children sex education. "I have been assured by our Undersecretary for Legal [Services] Franklin Sunga and our legal team that there is nothing in the Constitution that prohibits sex education in schools," said Malaya, the department’s spokesperson. Last Monday, Imbong invoked Section 12, Article II of the Charter, which states that: "The natural and primary right and duty of parents in the rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and the development of moral character shall receive the support of the government." [See: Constitution forbids sex education in schools, senatorial bet claims] Imbong interpreted this provision as a restriction on the teaching of sex education in schools. Imbong, a laywer and professor, used to head the legal department of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). "Sex education in schools is banned by the Constitution," she said during the Hiritan 2010 forum of GMA News and Public Affairs’ Unang Hirit. But on Tuesday, Malaya said the constitutional provision states the other way around. "[Section 12, Article II] mandates the state to establish adequate and relevant education and that educating the youth about adolescent reproductive health falls under the responsibilities of the state," he said. While he admitted that parents have the primary role to teach sex education to their children, Malaya said schools also have the same responsibility being the second home of children. "The parent and teacher should be a tandem here. It is better that students get the right information from the right sources rather than get the wrong information on the streets," he said. Imbong had been a staunch advocate against the passage of the controversial reproductive health bill, which allows sex education in schools starting Grade 5. The House of Representatives and Senate versions of the bill are still pending. — RSJ, KBK, GMANews.TV