For the Better: MGCNLCA Readies Implementation of K-10 MATATAG Curriculum
As part of the country’s mission to provide better education for Filipinos, the Department of Education (DepEd) officially launched the K-10 MATATAG Curriculum last August.
The original K-10 curriculum was discontinued in 2012 and was replaced by the K-12 during the time of late president Benigno Aquino III. Several years later, DepEd saw the need to review the K-10 curriculum due to the consistent poor performances of Filipino students in standardized assessments.
Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte stated that the main problem with the original curriculum was the excessive number of materials and subjects being taught. Considering the little time given per school year, students are not able to grasp the fundamental skills which was a main contributing factor to the country’s learning losses.
The revised curriculum is now known as the K-10 MATATAG Basic Education Curriculum. The acronym “MATATAG” stands for:
MAke the curriculum relevant to produce job-ready, active and responsible citizens;
TAke steps to accelerate the delivery of basic education services and provision facilities;
TAke good care of learners by promoting learner well-being, inclusiveness learning, and a positive learning environment;
Give support for teachers to teach better.
The primary goal of the revised curriculum is to promote “decongested” learning, build literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional development skills, and equip Filipino students with practical 21st-century skills. Roughly 70% of the original competencies in the previous curriculum were removed for being redundant and repetitive.
One major change is the removal of the Mother Tongue Subject for Grades 1 to 3. Instead, students will just focus on the five core subjects (Language, Mathematics, Good Manners & Right Conduct, Reading & Literacy, and Makabansa) to be able to develop the fundamental skills they need. Makabansa, taught to students of Grades 1-3, aims to give the young learners a sense of patriotism and love for the country. It is a mix of topics from Araling Panlipunan, Music, Arts, Physical Education, and Technology & Livelihood Education. Makabansa will then be dissolved into these five subjects come Grade 4.
Currently, thirty-five schools across seven regions in the country have participated in the initial pilot testing last September. MGC New Life Christian Academy (MGCNLCA) is also on its way to implementing the K-10 MATATAG Curriculum by next school year.
“In our commitment to delivering high-quality education that equips learners to excel in an ever-changing world, MGC New Life Christian Academy is preparing to implement the MATATAG Curriculum, as directed by DepEd, for the upcoming school year, 2024-2025,” expressed the school principal, Evangeline Co. She has already held a meeting on the school’s plans with the other supervisors.
In terms of subjects, minimal changes will be made for MGCNLCA. For the younger students, or those who are under the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (IB PYP), the school has always promoted learning that goes beyond individual subjects. On the other hand, Junior High School will still primarily remain aligned with the subject areas of the previous curriculum. Senior High School will not be affected by the changes.
The main difference lies in how classes will be conducted. Students will be given more time to take in the learnings from each lesson or subject. They will not only learn about academics but also develop important foundational skills like critical thinking and teamwork for a better learning outcome.
The implementation of the curriculum in MGCNLCA will follow the phases of DepEd for the succeeding school year, starting with Kindergarten (Gerizim), Grade 1 (Cana), Grade 4 (Gethsemane), and Grade 7 (Nazareth). This is to give time for both students and teachers to be able to adjust and transition.
As MGCNLCA transitions to the K-10 MATATAG Curriculum, striving to glorify God still remains the highest priority.
“As we look forward to the potential that the MATATAG Curriculum offers our school, we firmly believe that by adopting this curriculum and continuing to provide education deeply rooted in high-quality Christian education based on biblical truths and principles, we're taking a significant step toward preparing our students for success not only academically but also as responsible, global citizens. We eagerly anticipate witnessing how this approach will impact the growth and development of our students and our entire school community.,” concluded the school principal.
Sources:
https://mb.com.ph/2023/8/12/understanding-dep-ed-s-matatag-k-to-10-curriculum
https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/9/17/deped-pilot-test-list-matatag-curriculum.html
Interview with Mrs. Evangeline L. Co
