Manila: A teacher in Central Philippines’ Iloilo is under investigation for using an internet-accessible instructional sex video as part of his lecture in his biology class.
Reports reaching Manila said the male teacher, who was not named as he is under probe, asked his students in Grade 10 at the Pili National High School in Ajuy town to watch a particular film in their biology class as part of a lecture on sex education.
According to the Panay News, members of the municipal board was shocked upon hearing the report on the teacher’s action.
Angel Briones, who chairs the local board’s committee on public order and safety, described the video as “lewd and offending.”
Although the video tackles a clinical discussion about sex, the tone and topic was not something meant for Grade 10 pupils.
The teacher was reported to have used the video sharing site YouTube in accessing the clip.
Dr. Roel Bermejo, Department of Education Iloilo Schools Division superintendent, said showing what amounts to a porn film to the class, “was a form of abuse of the minors.”
“Both male and female students watched the film together in the class,” one of the students was quoted as saying in another report.
Dr. Bermejo said they are conducting an investigation into the matter.
Proper guidance
Ajuy Mayor Jett Rojas said that while it is true that sex education is being taught in schools on certain grade levels, it is important that the content of the discussion and the materials used are suitable to the students.
He said that arming students with information about sex is risky if not guided accordingly. “We cannot deny that minors are sexually active now. We want to guide them and protect them from unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases,” said the mayor.
Socio-Economic Secretary Ernesto Pernia, during a recent talk discussing population growth, said rising birth rates involving teenage mothers are “alarming” while pointing out that 24 infants are born to adolescent mothers every hour in the country.
“I commit to advocate for the President (Rodrigo Duterte) to issue an executive order acknowledging teen pregnancy as a national social emergency,” Pernia said.
He said that the effects of this is far-reaching and if not immediately addressed, a large cross section of families would be mired in “inter-generational poverty.” He also said that a total of between P24 billion (Dh1.68 billion) and P42 billion (Dh2.95 billion) worth of lifetime earnings of women in the country had been foregone due to early childbearing.
