Thirty-five schools will participate in the pilot run of the new MATATAG K to 10 curriculum starting on September 25, the Department of Education (DepEd) said on Sunday, up from the 20 it initially announced.
The department said five of the schools are in the National Capital Region (NCR), particularly in Malabon City, and five schools each from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Visayas, Soccsksargen, and Caraga will also join the pilot run.
DepEd deputy spokesperson Assistant Secretary Francis Bringas earlier said the department will consolidate all the findings and results of this pilot run in preparation for the phased implementation in the coming years.
The phased implementation of the new K-10 curriculum among learners inKinder, Grade 1, Grade 4, and Grade 7 will begin in School Year (SY) 2024-2025, reports said. This will be followed by Grades 2, 5, and 8in SY 2025-2026; Grades 3, 6, and 9 in SY 2026-2027; and Grade 10 in SY 2027-2028.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian meanwhile urged the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to have programs to allow children to stay in school.
“I believe that the first order of business in BARMM is to promote schooling and the second order is to retain learners in school,” he said.
During his discussions with BARMM governors, Gatchalian said he found out that many children in the region drop out of school to help out on their families’ farms.
“In the long run, the situation may not be conducive to their long-term well-being,” Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, said.
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano meanwhile said if the DepEd, headed by Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, will be given confidential and intelligence funds (CIF), then other departments should have similar funds.
Aside from the DepEd, Duterte is also asking Congress for confidential funds for the OVP.
Cayetano also said departments with CIF should “rationalize” the use of such funds, noting that every single cent, in the hearts and minds of people should be properly used and spent.
Senator Christopher Go said he trusts the integrity and capability of Duterte to implement programs of the OVP and DepEd.
“I am sure that she will not waste public funds,” Go said.
Gatchalian said there should be a legal basis for the Executive branch to ask for CIF. He said there should also be safeguards.
Once the report is submitted to Congress and the Senate, these should be subject to audit by the Commission on Audit, he said.
