The population issue has long been dead and buried in developed and most developing countries, including historically Catholic countries.
That it continues to be debated heatedly in our country merely testifies to the lack of progress in policy and action. The Catholic Church hierarchy has maintained its traditional stance against modern family planning (FP) methods, particularly modern (also referred to as "artificial") contraceptives.
On the other hand, the State acknowledges the difficulties posed for development by rapid population growth, especially among the poorest Filipinos. But it has been immobilized from effectively addressing the issue by the Catholic hierarchy's hard-line position, as well as the tendency of some politicians to cater to the demands of well-organized and impassioned single-issue groups for the sake of expediency.
Caught between a hard Church and a soft State are the overwhelming majority of Filipinos who affirm the importance of helping women and couples control the size of their families and the responsibility of the government to provide budgetary support for modern FP services.
Renewed impetus to the debate has been given by the public and political interest in the decade-and-a-half old bill on "Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health, and Population and Development" (RH bill, for short). Unfortunately, serious discussion has been hampered by the lack of reliable information and the proclivity of some parties in the debate to use epithets that label the bill as "proabortion," "antilife" and "immoral."
There were a few aspects of the bill to which some groups have expressed objections, which the latest version has already addressed. In any case, the main thrust of the bill-"enabl(ing) couples and individuals to decide freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children and to have the information and means to carry out their decisions"-is something we strongly and unequivocally support. In what follows, we explain why.
Population growth can be controlled through various measures such as family planning programs, promoting education and empowerment of women, improving access to healthcare and contraceptives, and addressing socio-economic factors like poverty and inequality. These interventions can help individuals make informed choices about family size and contribute to slowing down population growth rates.
Population Education is one of the upcoming educational innovations in the world. It has a relatively short history. The first national seminar on Population Education was held in Mumbai in 1969. Now the inevitable question arises that what this Population Education is. First of all I have to confess that it is not at all an easy task to define Population Education. Several experts have attempted various definitions of Population Education but a universally accepted definition is yet to be found. The Regional Seminar on Population and Family life Education, UNESCO, Bangkok, 1970 defines: "It is an educational program which provides for a study of population situation in family, community, nation and the world, with the purpose of developing in the students, rational and responsible attitudes and behavior towards that situation." According to Prof. Noel David Burleson: "Population Education or population awareness refers to factual knowledge about population dynamics required to understand the nature and magnitude of the burden imposed by rapid population growth." Now taking the help of the above opinions it may be summed up: Population Education is an exploration of knowledge and attitudes about population, family living, reproductive education and basic values. This means educating the students about the large and ever-increasing population and the problems which this population creates. Objectives are considered as prime necessities in each and every type of educational policy. Unless the objectives are specific and practical no definite program of education can be laid down. Likewise, Population Education necessitates spelling out objectives for its teaching. The policy level objectives of Population Education emphasizes on developing methodologies by influencing the young through schools and the adults through other educational agencies. It undertakes different educational programs, methods of teaching, curricular and co-curricular activities for school goers and out of schools. Population Education aims at developing the understanding of demographic situation of the population growth. This program helps the learners to understand the population growth in different stages. It also facilitates to understand different causes in the rise and fall of the rate of population growth. Another objective of Population Education is developing an understanding of the influence of population growth on social, political, economic and cultural life of individuals. It enables the learners to understand the serious effects of population growth on vitality of our economic life. The motto of Population Education is to create an understanding of scientific and medicinal growth and advancement. Different programs of Population Education make the learners aware of the contribution of medical sciences and technological development towards the human lives. Another important objective of population education is to develop an understanding of the evil effects of over population on the environment and the dangers from pollution. The purpose is to make an acquaintance with the effects of population growth on air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, thermal pollution, radioactive pollution, food and soil pollution, etc. Developing the understanding of the rapid growth of population and its multidimensional causes is another objective of this educational program. It not only formulates educational strategies but also roots out different causes of population growth. Population Education enables the learners to have an appreciation of the relationship between population size and the quality of life. Unchecked population growth creates economic problems and political tensions. Besides the above objectives this educational program creates an appreciation of the relationship between small size family and its good effect on the preservation of health of the mother and the welfare of the children. It also helps the learners to understand that the family size is controllable and population limitation can facilitate the development of a higher quality of life. The objectives mentioned in this article are more or less suggestive. The interaction among the various facts of the population dynamics is such that it is not possible to encircle them with a defined border. These objectives merely outline an operational framework of Population Education.
Population growth is a huge problem, contributing to numerous environmental and health problems across the globe. Literacy in family planning---particularly among women---has been linked statistically to reduced population growth. Improved primary education also reduces infant mortality. Not only it result in reduced population but also leads to an improved quality of life. .
The National Census Bureau is responsible for maintaining the census database. A population census can take over a year to complete. The census statistics will show the current population of the town or city and how it has grown or not over the past ten years.
Governments have the responsibility to ensure access to family planning services and education about reproductive health to help manage population growth. Additionally, they should implement policies that promote sustainable development and address issues such as poverty, healthcare, and environmental impact related to population growth.
Family Planning, Population Education, Responsible Parenthood, Birth Spacing, Limit Family Size,
- family planning program- responsible parenthood- spiritual activities- recreational activities- spiritual education
The population program of the Philippines aims to promote responsible parenthood, provide access to family planning services, and reduce maternal and infant mortality rates. It also focuses on empowering women, improving reproductive health education, and encouraging family planning as a means to achieve sustainable development.
Family Planning,Responsible Parenthood,etc.
Population education is important because it helps individuals understand the dynamics of population growth, distribution, and its impact on social, economic, and environmental issues. It encourages responsible decision-making regarding family planning, health care, and sustainable development which are crucial for the well-being of society and the planet.
The Philippine Population Management Program is a government initiative aimed at promoting responsible parenthood by providing access to family planning services, maternal healthcare, and reproductive health education. It also focuses on promoting sustainable population growth to achieve economic and social development goals in the country.
The current population growth rate in the Philippines is estimated to be around 1.35% per year. This rate is gradually decreasing due to various factors such as improved access to family planning services, increased education, and urbanization. The government of the Philippines has implemented programs to promote responsible parenthood to help stabilize population growth.
Family Planning Program and Responsible ParenthoodSpiritual & Recreational ActivitiesSPiritual Education*based on my MAPEH II book..
Population education is integrated into the school curriculum to ensure that students understand the challenges and implications of population growth on society, the environment, and sustainable development. It equips students with the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions regarding family planning, health, and responsible citizenship. By incorporating population education, schools aim to promote awareness, critical thinking, and responsible behavior among students towards population-related issues.
Sex education in the Philippines includes topics such as reproductive health, family planning, and gender equality. The government has implemented the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 to provide comprehensive sexual education in schools. Despite efforts to improve sex education, challenges remain due to cultural norms and religious beliefs that affect the implementation of these programs.
Planned Parenthood is a family planning clinic that offers contraception. In addition to contraception, Planned Parenthood also offers gynecological exams and abortion services.
A. Mongid has written: 'Family life education and population and family planning education in private institutions, 1986-1990'