House ratifies bill incorporating GMRC to K-12 program

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives on Wednesday night ratified the bill institutionalizing values education in the curriculum by incorporating Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) as a subject.

The lower chamber ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the disagreeing provisions of House Bill No. 5829 and Senate Bill No. 1224 institutionalizing GMRC in the K-to-12 curriculum.

Under the House version of the bill, GMRC shall be a part of the Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao curriculum of the Department of Education’s K to 12 program and shall be taught as a separate subject for students in Kindergarten up to Grade 3 level.

“The GMRC shall inculcate among the students the concepts of human dignity, respect for oneself, and giving oneself to others in the spirit of community, for the effective and holistic development of the decision-making skills of the child,” the bill states.

Among the focus of the curriculum are as follows:

Caring for oneself
Giving concern for others
According to proper respect for people
Upholding discipline and order
Cultivating sincerity
Honesty
Obedience
Love for country

The bill states that the teaching method for the subject shall be actual or situational rather than conceptual so that students can directly relate to the lessons.