FILE: DepEd Undersecretary Michael Poa. | PHOTO: RTVM / PCO website
MANILA, Philippines — The pilot implementation of the new “Matatag” curriculum on Monday was “met with positivity” in schools, according to a Department of Education (DepEd) official.
DepEd Undersecretary and spokesperson Michael Poa also said that teachers were “adequately prepared” for the pilot run of the recalibrated K to 10 programs following their orientation and training sessions.
“Generally speaking, the first day of the pilot implementation of the MATATAG K to 10 Curriculum was met with positivity as learners, teachers, and schools were receptive to the new curriculum,” he said in a message to reporters via Viber.
“The participating regions reported that teachers were adequately prepared for the pilot implementation, due to capacity-building activities and orientation sessions on the new curriculum conducted prior to the first day of implementation,” he added.
Poa likewise said a few class program designs are being adjusted in some schools to accommodate changes in the time allotted for specific learning areas.
“This period of adjustment is expected — as the very purpose of the pilot implementation is to monitor and determine areas that may need to be improved or enhancements that may be put in place in preparation for the nationwide phased-implementation of the Matatag Curriculum come SY 2024-2025,” he explained.
The pilot implementation of the new Matatag curriculum is being conducted in 35 schools in seven regions, namely the National Capital Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Regions 1, 2, 7, 12, and Caraga.
Under the new curriculum, the number of competencies students must master is reduced by about 70 percent to allot more time on foundational skills and better learning outcomes.
The official rollout will begin in Kinder and Grade levels 1, 4, and 7 by School Year (SY) 2024 -2025; Grades 2, 5, and 8 by SY 2025-2026; Grades 3, 6, and 9 by SY 2026-2027; and Grade 10 by SY 2027-2028.