Dropouts due to teenage pregnancy, early marriage down 88% – VP Sara

The number of students discontinuing their studies due to teenage pregnancy and early marriage has decreased by over 88% given the availability of alternative learning programs, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte said Thursday. 

In her second basic education report, Duterte said that the Department of Education (DepEd) continues to strengthen mechanisms to protect learners against all forms of violence, discrimination, and dangers.

“Through the promotion of Alternative Delivery Modes, we were able to decrease the total number of dropouts due to teenage pregnancy and early marriage by 88.85%,” she said.

It was not immediately clear what years were covered in the report.

Aside from this, Duterte said 1,017 teen centers were reactivated for health resources and referrals, and child protection committees were formed to teach students to recognize violence, exploitation, and sexual abuse.

So far, DepEd’s Learner Rights and Protection Office has resolved 178 cases of child abuse.

Based on the revised Kindergarten to Grade 10 (K-10) curriculum, DepEd plans to teach learners lessons on sexual and reproductive health rights starting at the Grade 4 level, where students are usually aged eight to 10.

Grade 5 students will receive lectures on healthy ways of managing puberty-related changes, communicating needs, and respecting boundaries in relationships.

Respecting basic gender concepts and all sexual identities will be taught in the third quarter of Grade 6.

Topics on social development will be explained in Grade 7, while those related to sexually transmitted infections, such as HIV and AIDS, will be for Grade 8 students.

Grade 9 students, typically aged 13 to 15, will be given lessons on ways to demonstrate responsible sexual behaviors and sexual and gender-based violence. — VBL, GMA Integrated News