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Catholic schools open to ‘age-appropriate’ sex-ed


Catholic schools are open to holding a dialogue with government for what they called an "age-appropriate" and "value-based" sex education. The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) said it is finalizing "enrichment modules" on sex education that will be ready next semester. "Sex education is creative human relations different from genital relationship," CEAP president Msgr. Gerardo Santos said in an article posted Wednesday on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines news site. The Department of Education had planned to introduce the sex education program on the recommendations of the United Nations Population Fund. But the DepEd has put the plan on hold until after it conducts dialogues with the CBCP and other sectors, Secretary Mona Valisno said. CEAP members include 1,252 Catholic schools, colleges and universities. Of these, 700 are considered mission schools. On the other hand, CBCP Episcopal Commission on Social Communication and Mass Media executive director Fr. Francis Lucas said the content of government's sex education program should benefit from a thorough consultation with experts. Lucas said education is “more on formation rather than providing information and so this program should be taught with the help of the professional." “Huwag na natin pag-experimentuhan ito, dapat tanungin o ikunsulta ito sa mga eksperto na nakahanda sa mga ganitong formation (Let us not experiment. We should ask experts on the subject)," Lucas said. He added sensitive issues should not be taught without any preparations, adding that the program should not be taught technically because it needs extensive explanation to students. “Hindi lang sex yan kundi human sexuality, yung kabuuan ng tao at alam natin na primary role yan ng mga magulang at secondary role ng mga paraalan (We are talking not just about sex but human sexuality. Parents play a primary role in education, and schools just a secondary role)," he said. Meanwhile, Catholic schools lamented they continue to suffer from declining enrollment. Santos said the decline was due to economic difficulties suffered by Filipino families. “Whenever Catholic schools increase their tuition, a significant number of parents would opt to transfer their children to public schools," he said. He added Catholic schools noted an increase in their dropout rates until last year. He said he hopes the decline in enrollment would be stopped soon as the government plans to increase its funds for its service-contracting scheme. Santos also said Catholic schools suffer from teachers’ transfer to public schools due to higher salaries and lighter routines. Hardest hit by decline in enrollment are parochial and mission schools, he said. “There are a few Catholic schools experiencing an increase in enrollment due to their location and parents’ capacity to support their children’s Catholic education," Santos added. He said there are parochial and mission schools surviving on the government-sponsored Educational Service Contracting (ESC) scheme, which provides financial support to poor but deserving students in far-flung areas. “We are optimistic President Benigno Aquino III will fulfill his campaign promise to increase the ESC scheme while phasing out the Educational Voucher System," he said. He said the Educational Service Contracting scheme provides public schools some breathing space by sending beneficiaries to Catholic schools instead of enrolling them in already crowded public schools. - LBG, RJAB Jr./GMANews.TV

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