Public school students welcome new school year as government checks open curriculum
Millions of public school students returned to class on Tuesday, August 29 to welcome the new school year and a new curriculum initially rolled out by the government for students in grades kindergarten through 10.
Of the more than 22 million registrations, the Department of Education (DepEd) says about 19 million are students from public schools, while the rest are from private institutions.
DepEd officials say total enrollment could reach 28 million as schools continue to update learner information system data, a process that could take two weeks, and late enrollment numbers will arrive.
Besides the new school year, the new program “MATATAG” is also expected to be piloted this year.
DepEd has introduced a new curriculum that narrows down the skills students need to master after two years of study.
About 70% of the current curricula have been scrapped, with study skills reduced from more than 11,000 to around 3,600, to allow more time for foundational skills to deliver better learning outcomes.
First level learning areas have also been reduced from seven to five to include language, reading and literacy, math, makabansa, manners and good conduct.
Jocelyn Andaya, Director of the Education Department’s Office of Curriculum and Development, said during the August 11 briefing: “There are skills that are nice to know but not essential, so we are towards essential learning skills”.
A post on the website of the Second Congressional Education Committee (Edcom II) – the national committee responsible for conducting a comprehensive national review of the Philippine education sector – said the pilot implementation will be delayed.
He said DepEd has yet to list the 30 participating schools in six regions and learning materials have yet to be distributed.
DepEd Director Jocelyn Andaya said the old curriculum will be used for the first two weeks of the school year while the administration finalizes participants, with the new curriculum rolling out after schools pilot selected, DepEd Director Jocelyn Andaya said according to Edcom II.
Phased implementation will include Kindergarten and Grades 1, 4 and 7 in the current school year.
Meanwhile, some members of the Union of Concerned Teachers welcomed the new school year by holding a rally in Mendiola, Manila, early in the morning.
