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DepEd rolls out new, decongested K-10

curriculum
The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday launched its revised Kinder to
Grade 10 (K-10) curriculum that will notably lessen learning competencies
students need to master, beginning with a pilot program this incoming school
year.

Around 70% of the current curriculum will be cut, with learning competencies to
be reduced to around 3,600 from over 11,000 to give more time to what DepEd
called foundational skills for a better learning outcome.

After the pilot implementation in select schools this incoming school year (SY),
the revised curriculum will be adopted in phases.

Implementation will begin in Kinder, and Grade levels 1, 4, and 7 by SY 2024 to

2025; Grades 2, 5, and 8 by SY 2025 to 2026; Grades 3, 6, and 9 by SY 2026 to
2027; and Grade 10 by SY 2027 to 2028.

"There are competencies that are only nice to know but not a must to know that's
why we aim for essential learning competencies," said Jocelyn Andaya, director of
DepEd Bureau of Curriculum and Development Director, in a briefing after the
event.

"Learners will bring these essential learning competencies to the next grade
level, and they will not forget these," she explained.

The launch of the tweaked K-10 curriculum, called "Matatag" curriculum, came
after a two-year review process consulting various stakeholders like teachers,
higher education institutions, private schools, and international experts.

In the new curriculum, learning areas in the early levels will be reduced from
seven to five: Language, Reading and Literacy, Math, Makabansa, and Good
Manners and Right Conduct.

Makabansa includes cultural awareness, nationalism, and patriotism, the agency

said.

Peace education will be introduced with topics like conflict resolution, human
security, community resilience, and disaster risk reduction.

There will also be an emphasis on 21st-century skills like digital literacy, critical
thinking, non-verbal communication, and informed decision-making.

The mother tongue will still be used as a medium of instruction but will no longer
be taught as a subject. Filipino will remain as a language subject.

"Mother tongue as a subject has caused confusion to teachers especially in Luzon

because there's Filipino, so they were asking what's the difference between
Filipino and mother tongue. We decided to take out the mother tongue as a
subject to remove the confusion," said Undersecretary Gina Gonong.

"I call on all teachers and school officials to ensure the efficient implementation
of the program," said Vice President Sara Duterte, who is also the education
secretary.

The curriculum for senior high school is still under review, with the aim to ensure
graduates can easily land jobs.