Stakeholder Perspectives on Junior High School Integration of Comprehensive Sexuality Education: Implications for Educational Leadership and Management
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69569/jip.2026.177Keywords:
Comprehensive Sexuality Education, Educational leadership, Junior High School, Stakeholder perspectives, Thematic analysisAbstract
Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) provides junior high school learners with appropriate knowledge related to sexuality. This reform enhances decision-making skills and understanding, and helps prevent sexually transmitted diseases, sexual abuse, and early pregnancy. Understanding stakeholders’ perspectives—parents, teachers, and school heads—is crucial for effective integration of comprehensive sexuality education. In the Philippines, policies such as the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law (RA 10354) mandate that the Department of Education (DepEd) integrate CSE into the basic education curriculum. However, limited studies have examined stakeholders’ perspectives on CSE integration in a city in Region X, Philippines, particularly their awareness, attitudes, preparedness, and perceived barriers. This study assessed stakeholders’ perspectives regarding CSE integration in the junior high school curriculum using a qualitative descriptive design. The study involved nineteen stakeholders from public junior high schools in a city in Region X, Philippines, who were purposively selected. Data were gathered via semi structured interviews and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s (2013) thematic analysis. Five themes emerged: (1) comprehensive sexuality education as protection rather than promotion, (2) uneven knowledge and readiness among stakeholders, (3) cultural and religious sensitivity as a central tension, (4) shared responsibility between school and family, and (5) CSE as a foundation for lifelong decision-making. While stakeholders recognized CSE’s protective and developmental value, gaps in awareness, limited training, and socio-cultural concerns influenced the integration of CSE. These findings underscore the importance of educational leadership in strengthening stakeholder collaboration, enhancing teacher preparedness, and promoting culturally responsive strategies to support CSE integration in junior high schools.
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