Models of daily lesson plans were still being finalized, with distribution being eyed “in the coming weeks, according to the DepEd. (File photo by GRIC C. MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — There will be a two-week delay in the pilot implementation of the new K-10 “Matatag” curriculum this coming school year as the Department of Education (DepEd) has yet to come up with a list of the 30 participating public schools in six regions.
In a statement on Sunday, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (Edcom II) said that during a meeting last week, DepEd officials said the list was still being finalized and that “pending [a] final decision, the pilot schools will be informed after the school opening” on Aug. 29.
Edcom II also said, citing DepEd Director Jocelyn Andaya, that the old K-10 curriculum would be used for the first two weeks of the school year to allow the participating schools to be identified, after which the pilot testing of the revised and recalibrated curriculum would begin.
During the meeting, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, Edcom II co-chair and head of the Senate basic education committee, expressed concern about the availability of learning materials for the pilot testing, noting that it would be difficult to determine if the new curriculum was “good or not” without these.
“We’ve been talking about this [revised curriculum] for many years but now it’s a reality. The implementation will make the difference between the success and, hopefully not, the failure of this Matatag K-10 curriculum,” Gatchalian said.
‘Lesson exemplars’
Leila Areola, director of the DepEd’s Bureau of Learning Delivery, said “lesson exemplars” or models of daily lesson plans were still being finalized, with distribution being eyed “in the coming weeks.”
Edcom II, however, pointed out that during its consultations with stakeholders, many teachers had said that textbooks and quality teaching resources, in addition to training, must be made available before the rollout of the new curriculum.
In a press briefing after the official launch of the recalibrated curriculum on Aug. 10, DepEd Undersecretary Gina Gonong told reporters that the agency was still preparing the learning resources in-house for the pilot testing.
“We’ll train the teachers, it’s not the usual training that you see wherein they are gathered in a big venue. Here, we will go to them since there are just a few [schools] in the pilot and we’ll provide technical assistance,” she said.
After the pilot study, the new curriculum will be implemented in kindergarten and Grades 1, 4 and 7 starting in school year (SY) 2024 to 2025; followed by Grades 2, 5, and 8 in SY 2025 to 2026; Grades 3, 6 and 9 in SY 2026 to 2027; and finally, Grade 10 in SY 2027 to 2028.
‘Peace education’
The revised curriculum has been decongested by 70 percent to focus on foundational skills, particularly in literacy, numeracy and socioemotional skills.
It also features an intensified “peace education,” which Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte said “holds a very special place in my heart.”
The peace education competencies were integrated in Grades 1 to 10 subjects, including the new Makabansa subject, Araling Panlipunan, Science, Physical Education and Health, Values Education, Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao, Technology and Livelihood Education, and Good Manners and Right Conduct.
A review of the Grades 11 to 12 curriculum is still ongoing, according to DepEd.
LTO preparations
Edcom II, created through Republic Act No. 11899, is mandated to conduct a “comprehensive national assessment and evaluation” of the education sector’s performance.
Its members include lawmakers and experts from different sectors, including the academe, industry, government agencies, local governments, and civil society organizations.
Meanwhile, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) said on Sunday that it has directed its personnel to ensure the roadworthiness of public transportation and school service vehicles, in preparation for the opening of classes on Tuesday.
“All concerned LTO officials are tasked to guarantee that all our roads will be safe for our teachers, students, and parents amid the resumption of classes,” LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II said in a statement, referring to areas near schools identified by DepEd as densely populated.
These include Batasan Hills National School and President Corazon C. Aquino Elementary School, both in Batasan, Quezon City; Dr. Alejandro Albert Elementary School in Sampaloc, Manila; and Bagong Silangan Elementary School in Bagong Silangan, Quezon City.
Mendoza also ordered his men to monitor overloading in vehicles, look out for unregistered or “colorum” school service vehicles, and conduct verification of drivers’ licenses and vehicle registration documents.