Bridging the Gaps in Teaching Reproductive Health

April 16, 2016 - Cebu City Mandated by Republic Act 10354 or the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law of 2012. Stated under its Section 14, the State shall provide an age- and development-appropriate reproductive health education for adolescents, which shall be taught by adequately trained teachers in the formal and non-formal educational system. The challenge now is, ensuring that teachers are ready to teach sexuality education and reproductive health to students.

The Forum with the support of Family Planning 2020 (FP2020), and in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) Cebu City Division, conducted a training for teachers in teaching reproductive health. It was attended by teachers of Nigh High Schools in Cebu City, who teaches health, values education, science and other related subjects.

The discussions workshops were focused on teaching adolescent sexuality, reproductive health, sexually transmitted infection, HIV and AIDS, population and family planning methods, and RH related issues faced by young people.

The training also served as a venue for teachers to discuss and share among peers their strategies on teaching sexuality education and reproductive health. The training ended with valuable sample lesson plans on discussing topics like changes during puberty and adolescence, prevention of STIs/HIV, effects of early sex and pregnancy, etc.