Barbers files Responsible Youth Act
SURIGAO del Norte Representative and House committee on dangerous drugs chairman Robert Ace S. Barbers has filed a bill, which seeks to integrate programs or courses on Environmental Protection, Entrepreneurship, Reproductive Health and Population Control, and Drug Prevention in the curriculum of elementary and high school to develop positive mindsets among the youth.
In filing House Bill (HB) 5202, otherwise known as the “Responsible Youth Act”, Barbers today explained “It is often said that youth is the hope of our country. Their passions, dreams, motivation and determination can make a difference in building a nation.
However, youth of today faces many risks and challenges, including drug addiction, teenage pregnancy and lack of awareness on the pressing issue on global warming, among others. Thus, they need proper guidance and direction to ensure that they are still on the right path in becoming a responsible adult.”
“Discussion of these programs or courses paired with broader and more comprehensive instruction as early as childhood can help prepare youth to reach intellectual and emotional maturity leading to a responsible and healthy life decisions. Early intervention has a life altering impact on changing a child’s life path away from problems and toward positive behaviors,” Barbers added.
The veteran lawmaker from Mindanao stressed “In order for these programs to produce positive results, the content of the course or the teaching modules to be developed by the Department of Education must be ‘age-appropriate’.”
“Age-appropriate shall mean topics, messages and teaching methods that are suitable to particular age and developmental levels based on the cognitive, emotional, social and experience levels of most students at that level,” Barbers said.
Under the bill, Department of Education (DepEd) shall provide measures and adopt additional changes or adjustment in the elementary and high school curriculum in order to integrate the environmental protection education, entrepreneurship education, reproductive health and population control education, and drug prevention education within six months from the approval of this proposed legislation.
The DepEd shall likewise provide free trainings to teachers and staff in order that they may be capacitated to incorporate a reality framework in teaching the students.
The training may be credited to their Continuing Professional Education (CPE) units required for professional license renewal.
