Senator Win Gatchalian is urging the Teacher Education Council (TEC) to ensure the alignment of teacher education and training programs to the ‘MATATAG’ K to 10 curriculum.
Gatchalian made this call following the launch of the decongested K to 10 curriculum, which will focus on foundational skills such as literacy and numeracy, as well as values education and peace competencies. From 11,700 learning competencies, the new curriculum reduces the total number of learning competencies to 3,644. Learning competencies are the knowledge, understanding, skills, and attitudes that students need to demonstrate in every lesson and/or learning activity.
“Dahil ang ating mga guro ang may pinakamahalagang papel sa pagkatuto ng mga kabataan, kailangang tiyakin nating ang kanilang edukasyon at pagsasanay ay akma at tugma sa mga dapat nilang ituro sa ilalim ng bagong K to 10 curriculum,” Gatchalian said.
The new curriculum, which will start rolling out by School Year (SY) 2024-2025, will have a phased implementation starting with Kindergarten, Grades 1, 4, and 7. For (SY) 2025-2026, the curriculum will roll out in Grades 2, 5, and 8; followed by Grades 3, 6, and 9 for (SY) 2026-2029. The revised curriculum will roll out in Grade 10 by SY 2027-2028, followed by the full implementation of the curriculum by 2028.
In preparing teachers for the rollout of the curriculum, Gatchalian cited the role of the National Educators’ Academy of the Philippines (NEAP), the DepEd’s professional development arm. While the NEAP is mandated to provide quality professional development programs for in-service teachers, school leaders, and other teaching-related personnel, Gatchalian pressed that teachers’ preparation for rolling out the K to 10 curriculum should start during pre-service teacher education.
Under the Excellence in Teacher Education Act (Republic Act No. 11713), the revamped TEC will strengthen the coordination between the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). The TEC is also mandated to set basic requirements for teacher education programs and ensure their coherence from pre-service to in-service.
The Excellence in Teacher Education Act also provides that the Secretary of Education shall serve as the TEC’s Chairperson.
Gatchalian is the principal author and sponsor of the Excellence in Teacher Education Act.
