DepEd to Teach Proper Condom Use Starting Grade 8
The Department of Education (DepEd) will teach students the proper use of condoms and other contraceptives starting in Grade 8, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said during a House budget hearing on September 7.
The clarification came after Akbayan party-list Representative Perci Cendaña asked DepEd when proper condom use would be taught as part of reproductive health education.
Cendaña raised the issue amid concerns over adolescent pregnancy and HIV cases among younger Filipinos.
When will students learn about condom use?
According to Angara, lessons on the human body and personal health are introduced at an earlier stage of a student’s education.
When it comes to the actual use of contraceptives, however, he said this is taught in Grade 8.
But the actual use of contraceptives is taught at eighth grade, Your Honor.
Cendaña then asked DepEd to confirm that proper condom use and protection would be included in Grade 8 lessons.
He also requested that the department submit the curriculum standards that will be used for the rollout. Angara agreed to provide the standards.
It’s part of reproductive health education
The discussion comes under DepEd’s broader Reproductive Health Education (RHE) program.
In 2025, DepEd issued Order No. 025, establishing its policy on reproductive health education for adolescent learners in basic education. The policy calls for reproductive health lessons that are appropriate to a student’s age and stage of development.
The policy covers more than contraceptives. It is intended to help students understand their health and development, make informed and responsible decisions, and protect themselves from risks including sexual abuse and gender-based violence.
DepEd also said the policy is designed to be culturally sensitive and inclusive while taking into account the context of Filipino learners, families, and communities.
The 2025 order also replaced the department’s previous Comprehensive Sexuality Education framework with Reproductive Health Education.
READ: Where the 2026 DepEd budget Will Go: A Parent-Friendly Breakdown
Why is condom use part of the conversation?
The announcement comes as the Philippines continues to deal with adolescent pregnancy and other reproductive health concerns.
Cendaña specifically pointed to the country’s HIV situation and the need for young Filipinos to have access to accurate reproductive health information.
Data cited in recent reports have also highlighted the continuing number of adolescent pregnancies in the country, adding urgency to discussions about age-appropriate reproductive health education.
But teaching condom use is only one part of that larger conversation.
Reproductive health education also covers understanding one’s body, responsible decision-making, pregnancy prevention, personal safety, and other issues that young people may encounter as they grow up.
What happens next?
While Angara confirmed that actual contraceptive use is taught in Grade 8, DepEd still needs to provide the curriculum standards that will guide the rollout.
For students and parents, that means the conversation isn’t simply about putting condoms into a classroom lesson. It’s also about how reproductive health information is taught, at what age, and in a way that is accurate and appropriate for Filipino learners.
As adolescent health remains an important concern in the Philippines, making sure young people receive reliable information may be just as important as deciding when they receive it.
