Bontoc, Mountain Province – At least 73 guidance counsellors and secondary teachers from the various government and private high schools in the province participated in a two-and-a-half day Provincial Training of Education Agents on Population and Development Education (PopDev Ed) conducted last week of July 2015.

Provincial Population Officer Shirley A. Chiyawan said that the activity aims to encourage the participants to integrate PopDev Ed in the curriculum, develop their competencies in defining and discussing the various concepts of interrelationships of population and development thoroughly, update their knowledge and skills on educating the youth on sexuality and responsible parenthood, and identify ways of accelerating the integration if not institutionalization of PopDev Ed in various education levels.

Chiyawan added that resource speakers were trained personnel from the Population Commissio-Cordillera Administrative Region (PopCom-CAR). Guidance counsellors and secondary teachers, preferably those teaching Values Education or Araling Panlipunan were lectured on teaching about human sexuality and Responsible Parenthood.

The activity was funded by the Provincial Government of Mountain Province thru the Maintenance and Operating Expenses of the Provincial Population Office and PopCom-CAR while the per diem, transportation expenses, and accommodation of the participants came from the Department of Education (DepEd)-Mountain Province. // By Alpine L. Killa