Luistro to discuss sex ed with bishops on Sunday

Newly installed Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro is set to meet with bishops on Sunday to hear their side on the controversial implementation of the sex education program this school year. Luistro will visit the plenary assembly of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) in Manila on Sunday to hear out the “sentiments" of the prelates regarding the program, CBCP secretary-general Monsignor Juanito Figura said in a news release posted on the group’s website on Saturday. Figura said Luistro himself approached the CBCP and asked for a meeting with the prelates to discuss the issue, specifically that of sex education modules being used this school year to teach the subject to both elementary and high school students. The DepEd chief earlier vowed to reconsider the implementation of the department’s sex education program, saying it was important to hear the sides of various stakeholders first. (See: Incoming DepEd chief eyes review of sex ed program) The DepEd started teaching sex education in both public and private schools this school year, to grade school pupils who are at least nine years old. The move was met with criticism by the Catholic Church and some parents’ groups — even resulting in a class suit against education officials and a petition to temporarily stop the department from teaching sex education this school year. (See: Parents sue DepEd for including sex education in schools) The Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 88, however, earlier this month junked the motion to stop the DepEd’s sex education program. The court said the petitioners, led by CBCP lawyer Jo Imbong, failed to establish which rights have been violated due to the implementation of the program. (See: QC court junks TRO motion vs sex education) Despite this, the CBCP has remained firm on its stand that teaching sex education is a “private matter" that should be taught by parents to their children and not by teachers in schools.—ACC/JV, GMANews.TV