DepEd: New K-10 curriculum 'met with positivity' as pilot test began

The start of the pilot implementation of the revised Kindergarten to Grade 10 (K-10) curriculum on Monday was “met with positivity” as learners, teachers, and schools were receptive to the new curriculum, the Department of Education (DepEd) said.

DepEd spokesperson Undersecretary Michael Poa said that teachers who participated in the pilot run were “adequately prepared” after they have completed their training.

“The participating regions reported that teachers were adequately prepared for the pilot implementation, due to capacity building activities and orientation sessions on the new curriculum conducted prior to the first day of implementation,” he told reporters.

Thirty-five schools have participated in the pilot run for School Year (SY) 2023-2024—five each in Metro Manila, particularly in Malabon City; Cordillera Administrative Region; Ilocos Region; Cagayan Valley; Central Visayas; Soccsksargen; and Caraga.

Poa said class program designs in some schools have also been undergoing further adjustments to address the changes in time allotments of certain learning areas.

“This period of adjustment is expected — as the very purpose of the pilot implementation is to monitor and determine areas that may need to be improved or enhancements that may be put in place in preparation for the nationwide phased-implementation of the Matatag Curriculum come SY 2024-2025,” he added.

Under the recalibrated K-10 curriculum, the number of learning competencies was reduced by 70% from around 11,700 to 3,600.

The DepEd also cut down the number of subjects, with greater emphasis given on the development of Kinder to Grade 3 learners' foundational skills—such as literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional skills.

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte explained Monday that the pilot run is needed to see if there are any more problems in the new curriculum that need to be addressed ahead of its phased implementation beginning SY 2024-2025.

“Meron tayong pilot ngayong taon na ito para makita natin kung ano ang mga problema sa implementation para sa susunod na taon, sa phased implementation natin ng Matatag curriculum, konti na lang ‘yung mga kailangan nating ayusin na mga gusot,” Duterte said.

(We have a pilot run this year so we can see what the problems are in the implementation of the new curriculum so that for next year, during our phased implementation of the MATATAG curriculum, we need only to fix a few issues.)

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. highlighted last month the need to fix the country's curriculum to cater to the present educational needs of Filipino students.

Marcos was asked for his reaction on the launching of the revised K-10 curriculum of basic education.

"It’s very significant because here we are trying to, sinusubukan nating gawin... ayusin ito para maging mas bagay sa pangangailangan ng batang Pilipino," Marcos said.

(We are trying to fix this to match the educational needs of Filipino students.)

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines however earlier this month called on the DepEd to stop the implementation of the new Matatag K-10 curriculum.

ACT secretary general Raymond Basilio said the new curriculum did not undergo a democratic and comprehensive consultation with stakeholders. —KG, GMA Integrated News