DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara confirmed that the proper use of contraceptives, including condoms, will be taught to Grade 8 students. The announcement came during a House budget hearing after Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña asked when the Reproductive Health Law’s condom instruction would begin. This policy directly affects Quezon City families with teenagers, as schools will now provide age-appropriate instruction on contraception. It comes amid rising adolescent pregnancy and HIV cases, making the lessons a practical health intervention for young people. The instruction will be delivered to Grade 8 students, typically ages 13 to 14, as part of DepEd’s comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) curriculum. Parents may contact their child’s school for specific lesson schedules and materials, since the rollout is integrated into existing subjects such as MAPEH, Science, and Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao.
Background
The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 (RA 10354) mandates age-appropriate reproductive health education for Filipino learners. DepEd institutionalized comprehensive sexuality education through Order No. 31, series of 2018, which integrates sexuality topics across several subjects. The new confirmation clarifies that actual contraceptive use, such as condom application, will be taught starting in Grade 8.
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