THE number of basic education lessons in the newly launched K to 10 curriculum has been reduced compared to the current curriculum.
Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte hoped that the new program will provide a meaningful learning experience to students.
The Department of Education (DepEd) launched the Matatag Curriculum or the new K to 10 curriculum in the K to 12 program led by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte.
It took two years to complete the Matatag curriculum according to DepEd.
The new curriculum, which was launched on Thursday, reduced the number of learning competencies or things that children must learn compared to the current curriculum.
From more than 11,000 lessons, the content of the K to 10 curricula is only in more than 3,600 lessons that focus on the student’s literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional skills.
“70% of the competencies in the current curriculum have been taken out of the new curriculum or Matatag Curriculum. Simply because there are competencies that repeat. Number two, that there are only competencies that are only nice to know but not a must to know,” Director Jocelyn Andaya, Bureau of Curriculum and Development said.
There are only five subjects in Grade 1 including Reading and Literacy, Language, Mathematics, Makabansa, and Good Manners and Right Conduct or GMRC while in Grade 2 there are Filipino, English, Math, Makabansa, and GMRC.
The subject, Mother Tongue was also removed, while Science was added in Grade 3.
While in Grades 4 to 10 there are eight subjects.
New K to 10 curriculum includes Peace Education
The K to 10 also included Peace education, which according to Vice President Duterte holds a place in her heart.
“This next feature holds a very special place in my heart. The new K to 10 curriculum will integrate peace competencies— highlighting the promotion of non-violent actions and the development of conflict-resolution skills in learners. For, after all, there is security if there is peace,” Vice President Sara Duterte, Secretary, Department of Education said.
Among the things students will learn under peace education are self-awareness, social responsibility, community resilience, human security, and disaster risk reduction.
“All these are really meant to make our children make our learners be aware that they have to seek peaceful resolutions to conflicts even in the classrooms,” Director Jocelyn Andaya, Bureau of Curriculum and Development said.
VP Duterte hopes K to 10 curriculum will provide significant learning experience to students
DepEd said that a pilot implementation of the K to 10 curriculum will be conducted this school year in some selected schools.
While its full implementation will be implemented throughout the Philippines in phases.
“We are optimistic that this will provide our children with a meaningful learning experience that will boost their intelligence, improve their knowledge, enhance their skills and talents, and prepare them to become well-rounded, mature individuals,” VP Sara added.
