MATATAG CURRICULUM SEEN TO IMPROVE FUNCTIONAL LITERACY
ANALYN E. TACUSALME
The revised K to 10 curriculum, otherwise known as the MATATAG curriculum, would help improve functional literacy in the Philippines, according to officials.
They said recalibrating the basic education curriculum by reducing the number of competencies and focusing more on foundational skills such as literacy and numeracy would boost the academic performance of Filipino learners.
The revised curriculum will be decongested to reduce the number of competencies to the most essential — removing certain subjects, reducing learning competencies and just focusing more on reading, reading, reading and basic mathematics.
The intelligence and skills of Filipinos would only go to waste if the education system would not prepare them to be job ready or college ready, they added.
According to Department of Education Secretary and Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, the revised basic education curriculum is tailored to produce competent, job-ready, active, responsible and patriotic citizens.
She also cited the intensified formation of learners' values and character development in adherence to the Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) and Values Education Act as well as the articulation to 21st Century Skills.
She said among the features of the MATATAG curriculum are the peace competencies highlighting the promotion of non-violent actions and development of conflict resolution skills.
This curriculum will be integral in DepEd's MATATAG Agenda. DepEd's programs and reforms are intentionally tailored to produce competent, jobready, active, responsible and patriotic citizens.
"MATATAG" stands for "MAke the curriculum relevant to produce job-ready, active, and responsible citizens; TAke steps to accelerate the delivery of basic education services and provision facilities; TAke good care of learners by promoting learner well-being, inclusiveness learning, and positive learning environment; and Give support for teachers to teach better."
The MATATAG Curriculum will be implemented in SY 2024-2025 for Kindergarten, Grades 1, 4, and 7.
In SY 2025-2026, Grades 2, 5, and 8 will be under the new curriculum with Grades 3, 6, and 9 in SY 2026-2027. Grade 10 learners will join them on SY 2027-2028.?
-oOoThe author is a Teacher III at San Manuel National High School