CURRICULUM ENHANCEMENTS. Department of Education- Ilocos Regional Director Dr. Tolentino Aquino during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas forum hosted by the Philippine Information Agency-Ilocos Region in San Fernando City, La Union on Tuesday (Oct. 15, 2024). Aquino said teachers, who took part in the pilot-testing of the MATATAG curriculum for Kinder and Grades 1, 4, and 7 in school year 2023-2024, had reported having improved mastery in teaching. (Photo screenshot from PIA Ilocos Region’s live stream)

MALASIQUI, Pangasinan — Teachers from Ilocos Region tapped to pilot the MATATAG curriculum have reported a more productive teaching period.

Department of Education (DepEd) Ilocos Region Director Dr. Tolentino Aquino said during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas forum hosted by the Philippine Information Agency on Tuesday, that around 16,000 teachers in the region had been trained for the pilot-testing of the curriculum in Kindergarten, Grades 1, 4, and 7 in the last school year.

DepEd piloted the curriculum in 35 schools in the country—five each in seven regions—for School Year 2023-2024.

READ: Schools given more flexibility for ‘Matatag’ curriculum

For Ilocos, the schools tapped last school year were from Bangar, Bauang, Caba, Sto. Tomas, and Tubao towns in La Union.

“The teachers testified that their workloads have been decongested and they had more time to teach, thus the mastery in teaching,” Aquino said.

For the current school year, Aquino said five other schools in La Union had been tapped for pilot testing for Grades 2, 3, 5, and 8. These are Cabaruan Integrated School, Caba Central Elementary School, Acao Elementary School, Casacristo National High School, and Don Rufino Olarte Memorial National High School.

The Matatag curriculum aims to reduce the number of subjects but focuses on core abilities like reading, numeracy, and life skills.

It has four pillars namely making the curriculum more relevant to produce competent, job-ready, active, and responsible citizens; taking steps to accelerate the delivery of basic education facilities and services; taking good care of learners by promoting learner well-being, inclusive education, and a positive learning environment; and giving support to teachers to teach better.

Aquino said reduction in the curriculum is supported by education experts, including those from other countries.

Citing what the educators told them, Aquino added that the teachers said they were always rushing under the current K-12 curriculum, and did not have enough time to do all their tasks. (PNA)

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