MANILA, Philippines — Modules containing inaccurate information on Igorots were “mistakenly reproduced in good faith,” according to the Department of Education (DepEd), as it also asserted it does not condone discrimination of any kind.
“Our internal investigation showed that this draft document was still undergoing quality assurance procedures but was mistakenly reproduced in good faith by some school personnel,” DepEd said in a statement Tuesday.
“Discrimination should have no place in our society. Our journey to ensure that our education promotes equality and respect for each other still has a long way to go and the Department is committed to [doing] its part to eliminate discriminatory practices in schools and offices,” it added.
DepEd’s statement comes after Senator Sherwin Gatchalian urged the agency to conduct a nationwide assessment of all learning materials produced by its divisions, following reports about discriminatory remarks on Igorots were found in modules.
House members from the Cordilleras also filed a resolution condemning the incident, expressing disbelief and alarm over the portrayal of Igorots in DepEd modules.
“Proud to be Igorot” then trended on social media with Igorots sharing their experiences and posting their photos.
This isn’t the first time DepEd came under fire for the quality of its learning resources.
DepEd was also called out before after some of its modules carried contents that discouraged students from joining protests, which the Commission on Human Rights quickly condemned.
Other modules have been reported to contain and promote gender stereotypes, stereotypes on farmers, and body shaming.
These incidents prompted DepEd in October 2020 to launch its error watch initiative, giving the public access to correct mistakes they spot on its resources. Zac Sarao, Trainee