DepEd wants more focus on teaching GMRC in school

The Department of Education (DepEd) wants to place more attention on teaching Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) to students.

According to a report by Mariz Umali on 24 Oras on Tuesday, the GMRC subject takes on more significance because while parents and teachers used to be able to control what children are exposed to, that is no longer true nowadays, due to gadgets and the internet.

DepEd spokesman Usec. Nepomuceno Malaluan said that teachers should be sensitive to the changes in society for their lessons to be effective.

"'Yun ang kailangang i-enrich ng mga teacher. Kung ang teacher ay hindi sensitibo sa mga nangyayari sa kapaligiran niya, malamang hindi akma o hindi epektibo yung pagtuturo niya," he said.

He added that schools should not just focus on the academics of the students but also the personal values they develop as they grow.

"Ang mga estudyante kailangan hubugin di lang sa academic competencies but also personal values para lumalaki ng may tamang paguugali," he said.

Love for self, family, community, country, and God are taught in the subject Edukasyon sa Pagpakatao, and national identity and nationalism are taught in Araling Panlipunan.

However, there are many outside factors that can influence children's values in the new age.

Sociologist Clifford Sorita said that quality is sacrificed for speed in this digital and fast-paced world.

"In the technological society kasi, sometimes what is being sacrificed over quality is speed kasi syempre you're living in a fast-paced world eh," he said.

"Yung kanyang attention span yung kanyang sense of taking things slowly is being influenced by the five stage generation," he added. —Jessica Bartolome/JST, GMA News