Curriculum of silence

In a country where one in ten births is to a mother under 19, and over 2,300 girls aged 10 to 14 gave birth in 2021, the silence surrounding sex education is deafening. Despite this alarming trend, opposition to the Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) bill threatens to keep our youth uninformed. Embracing the CSE bill is imperative to equip young Filipinos with the knowledge to make informed decisions about their health and futures. 

The economic implications of teenage pregnancies are profound. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Philippines loses approximately ₱33 billion annually due to issues stemming from adolescent pregnancies. These losses are attributed to decreased productivity and increased health and social costs. Implementing comprehensive sexuality education can play a pivotal role in mitigating these economic burdens by reducing the incidence of teenage pregnancies. 

The Department of Education (DepEd) has recognized the importance of comprehensive sexuality education. In 2018, DepEd issued Policy Guidelines on the Implementation of Comprehensive Sexuality Education, aiming to provide age-appropriate and culturally sensitive education to students. This initiative reflects a commitment to equipping young Filipinos with the necessary knowledge and skills to navigate their reproductive health responsibly. 

Furthermore, the proposed curriculum introduces sexual and reproductive rights education as early as Grade 4, aiming to enhance students' health literacy. The lessons are designed to explain concepts such as the right to healthcare needs, sexual, and reproductive health, and to analyze the importance of health and sexual reproductive rights. Introducing these topics at a younger age can foster a more informed and responsible generation, capable of making sound decisions regarding their health and relationships. 

Despite the passage of the reproductive health law in 2012, which expanded sex education in public schools, implementation remains inconsistent. Advocates like Jomarie Oliva from the Likhaan Center for Women’s Health point out that not every student receives comprehensive sex education, leaving many unaware of how to protect themselves from unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. 

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) emphasizes that comprehensive sexuality education is essential for reducing rates of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Globally, countries that implement CSE programs have seen improved youth health outcomes and a decline in adolescent pregnancies (UNFPA). The Philippines, by aligning with these global standards, can reverse its alarming health trends. CSE is not just modern — it is medically necessary. 

Opponents of the CSE bill argue that discussing topics like contraceptives and sexual health with young students may encourage promiscuity. However, evidence suggests that comprehensive sex education does not lead to increased sexual activity among adolescents. Instead, it equips them with the knowledge to make informed choices, leading to delayed sexual initiation and reduced risk behaviors. By providing accurate information, we empower youth to make responsible decisions, rather than leaving them vulnerable to misinformation and risky behaviors. 

Some sectors claim the bill pushes a “woke” agenda, accusing it of moral erosion and Western influence. President Marcos himself criticized the bill in January 2025, labeling it “woke and abhorrent”. But morality rooted in misinformation is not morality at all, it is fear dressed as tradition. The bill is not ideological; it is medical, evidence-based, and life-saving. When ideology blocks access to truth, we don’t preserve culture — we prevent progress. 

The Comprehensive Sexuality Education bill dares to teach what generations before us have tiptoed around — reality. It is a bill that meets the rising tide of adolescent pregnancies, HIV infections, and gender-based violence not with shame, but with knowledge. Silence has failed us for too long. This time, we write a new lesson plan, one that does not skip the reality. Because when we deny students the right to understand their own bodies, we are not just failing them, we’re upholding a Curriculum of silence.