A NEW draft curriculum in Araling Panlipunan or Social Studies for Grade 10 students includes lessons on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) junking China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea under its so-called nine dash line.
The draft curriculum guide released by the Department of Education showed the lessons on WPS will be taught to learners under “territorial issues and border conflicts.”
The lessons on the arbitral ruling are listed under “Mga Pagtugon sa mga Hamong Pang Ekonomiya” or Responses to Economic Challenges.”
Although the current curriculum also focuses on contemporary issues, it does not explicitly include or mention the WPS or the arbitral tribunal ruling.
The Philippines, under the administration of then President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, filed in 2013 the historic arbitral case before the PCA in the Hague, Netherlands that challenged China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea.
The arbitral tribunal awarded victory to the Philippines in a ruling issued in July 2016, weeks after Rodrigo Duterte assumed the presidency after winning the 2016 elections.
However, China refused to abide by the ruling and insisted on bilateral talks to address the maritime territorial dispute, a move that experts said would be in its favor considering the economic and military heft it could bring to the table.
If adopted, the new DepEd curriculum will be the first time that learners in basic education will get to know and learn about the WPS and the arbitral victory.
A survey conducted by Pulse Asia from November 27 to December 1, 2022 showed that 84 percent of the 1,200 respondents wanted the Marcos administration to work with the United States to boost security cooperation to defend the country’s national interests in the WPS.
The same survey also showed that 80 percent of Filipinos believe that to effectively address the WPS issue, the Marcos administration should strengthen the country’s military capability.
RED-TAGGING AND EJKS
The draft curriculum will also include lessons on the controversial issues of red-tagging, extrajudicial killings, human rights violations and trolls.
The said issues are listed under “Mga Isyu at Hamon sa Pagkamamayan.”
Red-tagging is the practice of publicly labeling individuals or groups critical of the government as “communists” or “terrorists.” Among the common victims are human rights defenders, political activists, and journalists.
Human rights organizations said red-tagging, human rights violations, extrajudicial killings and trolling have become rampant under the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte, the father of current Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte.
SAME SEX UNION
The proposed curriculum also covers a host of gender-related issues such as same-sex union, same-sex marriage, gender-based discrimination, hate crimes due to gender, as well as local and international legislation to protect the LGBT+ community.
By studying these issues, Grade 10 learners, according to the DepEd, will learn gender roles, issues of gender discrimination in the house, schools and workplaces, and to accept that individuals, whatever their gender, are created equal and have equal rights in the community.
The proposed curriculum also includes lessons on the “The Philippine Economy under the Pandemic: From Asian Tiger to Sick Man Again?”
The DepEd said learning about these issues will equip and prepare Grade 10 learners to face “social issues” and to know more about the country’s economy and the challenges it faces.
The draft curriculum is part of the ongoing review by DepEd of the K to 12 program.
