Responsible adolescent sexuality education module pilot-tested at Palo school

By Provincial Media Relations Center
September 22, 2011

TACLOBAN CITY  –  A module on responsible adolescent sexuality education is being pilot-tested by the provincial government of Leyte through the Provincial Population Office to curb premarital sex and teenage pregnancy.

The special module, carefully crafted by the Leyte PopCom, was piloted at the Palo Central School over the week with Grade 5 & 6 pupils as participants.

Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla, who was in hand to evaluate the whole presentation of the module, tells teachers at the Palo Central School that this education has undergone close scrutiny and will be further refined before the same module will be introduced in all public elementary and high schools in the province.

“The main purpose in coming up with this module was brought about mainly by a survey which placed Eastern Visayas second in rank in terms of teenagers engaged in premarital sex,” Gov. Petilla told teachers after the whole module was presented to the pupils.

Also, the governor disclosed, that he was quite alarmed of the number of teenage mothers delivering babies in various birthing clinics in the province.

“Pregnant mothers are getting younger and younger these days. The youngest of whom we have encountered is only 12 years old, which is very alarming,” the governor added.

Further, Gov. Petilla said children and adolescents need accurate and comprehensive education about sexuality to practice healthy sexual behavior as adults in the future. He warns that early, exploitative, or risky sexual activity may lead to health and social problems, such as unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

For teenagers and young adults, sexuality education can provide a welcome opportunity to get correct answers to burning questions.  Research among teens has shown that young people want and need more information about reproductive health, sexuality and the environment.  Information usually comes "too late" and does not include enough detail.

The module piloted by the province consist mainly of a puppet show discussing major physical and emotional changes among adolescents, as well as friendly and interactive discussions on sexuality behaviour and open forum where the students can openly ask questions.

After the pilot-test, the module will still have to undergo minor revisions before it can be shown in all public schools in the province. The module would also be made available to freshman and sophomore students where most students are starting their teenage lives.