THE Department of Education yesterday assured the 35 schools participating in the pilot testing of the revised K to 10 curriculum of the government’s full support.
The pilot testing started yesterday, with the revised curriculum focusing on foundational skills to enhance basic education skills from Kindergarten to Grade 10.
Reports from the seven regions conducting the pilot testing were still being awaited by the DepEd.
“We would like you all to know that you are always in our minds. DepEd is doing everything to ensure you learn well and have a comfortable life,” DepEd Undersecretary Gina Gonong told students and teachers at the Tinajeros National High School in Malabon City, one of five schools in Malabon pilot testing the revised curriculum.
The others are Dampalit Integrated School, Santiago Syjuco Memorial School, Muzon Elementary School and Santiago Syjuco Memorial Integrated School.
Tinajeros is implementing the revised curriculum for Grade 7 students. The school has 681 Grade 7 students.
The school’s principal, Ma.Victoria De Gulan, said she is confident the revised curriculum will redound to the greater good, especially in upgrading the quality of basic education.
She said as part of Tinajeros’ preparations, the school had a pre-implementation plan dealing with learning resources, teacher preparedness and facilities.
“This has been studied by experts and they laid out points for this improvement under the DepEd Matatag (program),” De Gulan said.
The DepEd has tapped 117 specialists, 533 teachers, school heads and supervisors, 126 consultants, 205 external experts, 180 private schools and organizations, and seven international experts to conduct the review of the curriculum.
Among the revisions in the K to 10 program include reducing the number of competencies and greater emphasis on the development of foundational skills such as literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional skills for Kinder to Grade 3 learners.
Values and character development will be further intensified in adherence to Republic Act 11476, or the Good Manners and Right Conduct and Values Education Act of 2002.
The revised curriculum will also integrate peace competencies, highlighting the DepEd’s promotion of non-violent actions and the development of conflict resolution skills in learners.
The current curriculum has seven competencies, namely, Mother Tongue, Filipino, English, Mathematics, Araling Panlipunan, MAPEH, and Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao.
Under the Matatag curriculum, there will only be five competencies — Language, Reading and Literacy, Mathematics, Makabansa, and GMRC.
Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval also assured the DepEd of the local government’s full support for the pilot testing and eventual implementation of the revised curriculum.
“It is challenging that several of our schools were selected but we are ready to provide the necessary support,” Sandoval said.
After the pilot study, the revised curriculum will be implemented for Kindergarten and in Grades 1, 4 and 7 in the school year 2024-2025, Grades 2, 5 and 8 in the school year 2025-2026, Grades 3, 6 and 9 in the school year 2026-2027, and Grade 10 in the school year 2027-2028.
The curriculum for the senior high school program — Grades 11 and 12 — is still undergoing review.
