Sex Education — Why is it Important?

Written by Krizelle Rose M. Palma

As a child we tend to be curious about everything. When you were young have you ever asked
how babies are made? And how are you, from the present going to answer it based on how you
learned it?
Some perhaps going to be honest and explain it the right way, others may make a fake story
about storks that deliver babies but mostly might get uncomfortable because sex education is
still not an open topic in the Philippines that’s why for most people, the source of sex knowledge
was friends, peer and social media. Only few people can claim that they’ve been thought the
right way by their parents and teachers.
Sexual education or sexuality education is an education about the cognitive, emotional, social,
interactive and physical aspects of sexuality (Michielsen, 2015). It aims to develop and
strengthen children and young people’s ability to make conscious satisfying healthy and
respectful choices regarding relationships, sexuality and emotional and physical health.
Allowing sex education would have a lot of advantages.
Firstly, it can prevent one of the problems the Philippines is still facing which is the teenage
pregnancy. According to World Bank data reveals that the women aged 15-19 had 47 births
annually per 1000 in the Philippines, equating to more than 500 Filipino adolescent girls getting
pregnant and giving birth every day (Ramos, 2023) . By having sex education in schools correct
information can be provided to teenagers enabling them to choose the right decision. Research
showed that comprehensive sex education reduces the case of teens birth (Mark et al., 2022)
Second, it can be a tool to spread awareness about STD’s. According to the World Health
Organization there are 77,000 people living in the Philippines with HIV as of 2018 and more
than a million are contracted from 15-59 (Ngo, 2023). Research shows that comprehensive sex
education reduces the case of STD’s. Sex education can also help to promote safe sex protection
to avoid STI’s.
Third, sex education can empower us to choose the right decision about our body and sexuality,
it also helps us understand what are the possible consequences of our actions which promote
awareness about unwanted pregnancies and illness we can receive.
Fourth, it can reduce the discrimination and stigma (Downey,2017). And promotes acceptance of
different sexual orientations and gender identities. Which is important to have in our society.
Also reduce stigma surrounding STIs and unwanted pregnancies.
 Fifth, sex education teaches us to understand our body and sexuality, changes that we can occur
during different stages of puberty and helps us how to manage them. It can help us understand
our sexual orientation and gender identity which promotes acceptance.
Lastly, Sex education is a human right. We have right to access s accurate information about our
bodies and sexuality . Right to receive education that is free form stigma and discrimination.
States are required by the international human rights law to demonstrate they have fulfill their
obligations to uphold the rights to information and education by removing obstacles that prevent
them from accessing information about sexual and reproductive health.
In conclusion, sex education is important and needed in our education system. Allowing sex
education provides accurate information that gains us knowledge about our body and sexuality ,
skills to make a good decision, become aware of the possible consequences of our actions
because it may lead to teenage or unwanted pregnancy, promote safe sex protection to avoid STIs
and STDs , and to reduce the discrimination and stigma for better society, reduces healthy
relationships. I believe that we should allow sex education because as it is said it is our right.
We have a right to know anything about our body.