Senator Win Gatchalian hopes to see improvements in the performance of the country’s learners, especially when it comes to foundational skills like literacy and numeracy, with the launch of the revised K to 10 curriculum.
The review of the K to 12 curriculum stemmed from subject overload, impeding learners’ mastery of fundamental competencies. According to the Department of Education (DepEd), the revised curriculum will allocate more time for crucial subjects such as mathematics, science, reading, and values formation.
“Ngayong inilunsad na ang bagong curriculum para sa mga mag-aaral ng K to 10, may pagkakataon tayong patatagin ang pundasyon ng kaalaman ng mga kabataan, lalo na pagdating sa pagbabasa, pagsusulat, at pagbibilang. Mahalagang hakbang ito upang matiyak na maihahatid natin sa bawat mag-aaral ang dekalidad na edukasyon,” said Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.
While the DepEd eyes the rollout of the revised curriculum for School Year 2024-2025, Gatchalian underscored the importance for teachers to receive enough training and preparation as early as the pilot stage.
“I acknowledge the professionalism and training of our teachers, but we must also consider the timing of the new curriculum’s release. Teachers need to get familiar with the new curriculum, internalize it, and prepare for it,” said Gatchalian.
He also emphasized that the Senate’s basic education panel will continue to review the implementation of the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 or the K to 12 Law (Republic Act No. 10533), noting that other challenges persisting in the basic education sector should still be addressed.
These challenges include the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE), which is being hounded by implementation woes. The Senate basic education panel will soon present its recommendation on the implementation of MTB-MLE.
The DepEd is also currently reviewing the senior high school program. A task force has until May 2024 to present their outputs and recommendations.
Gatchalian’s solution to bridge gaps within the senior high school program is the Batang Magaling Act (Senate Bill No. 2367), which aims to rectify the discrepancy between senior high school graduates and the demands of the labor market.
