House OKs GMRC subject return to curriculum

MANILA, Philippines — In a bid to promote better values among schoolchildren, the House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a bill reintroducing the Good Morals and Right Conduct (GMRC) subject in the basic education curriculum.

By a 225-0 vote, the chamber approved House Bill No. 5829, authored by Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and 34 other lawmakers, which would reintegrate GMRC as a subject to be taught in Kindergarten up to Grade 3.

The subject shall be part of the Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao curriculum of the Department of Education’s

K to 12 program and designated as a separate subject.

Proponents said GMRC would inculcate among schoolchildren the “concepts of human dignity, respect for oneself, and giving oneself to others in the spirit of community.”

The goal is “the effective and holistic development of the decision-making skills of the child.”

The measure designates the Department of Education as the lead agency in training educators on how to teach GMRC.