ILOILO City – Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio’s announcement of her impending resignation by July 19 as Education Secretary has not affected the Department of Education (DepEd) Region 6’s existing programs.
“Change is always part of any organization,” said Hernani Escullar Jr., regional information officer for DepEd-6, but he stressed that ongoing educational initiatives in Western Visayas have not been disrupted.
Under the leadership of regional director Dr. Ramir Uytico, DepEd-6 ensures the continuity of all current programs and planned activities, Escullar stressed.
He cited the forthcoming implementation of the Matatag Curriculum by next month across all public schools in the region for Kindergarten, Grades 1, 4, and 7.
This curriculum will streamline the learning areas to five key components: Language, Reading and Literacy, Mathematics, Makabansa, and Good Manners and Right Conduct, aiming to enhance the focus and efficiency of basic education.
“The restructured curriculum may seem condensed, but it is designed to ensure our children gain more from their school experience while still delivering quality education that is relevant to their needs,” Escullar explained.
The phased implementation will begin with the 2024-2025 school year, initially covering Kindergarten and Grades 1, 4, and 7, and will progressively include additional grades over the following years (Grades 2, 5 and 8 for school year 2025-2026; Grades 3, 6 and 9 for school year 2026-2027; and Grade 10 for school year 2027-2028).
In preparation for this shift, regional training for school heads and teachers who will be directly involved in the first phase has already begun, conducted by the 21 division offices under DepEd Regional Office 6.
Following a mandatory vacation period, these trained school heads will then prepare their teaching personnel for the new curriculum.
During a press conference last week, Duterte-Carpio emphasized that her resignation, effective July 19, 2024, was motivated by genuine concern for the welfare of Filipino teachers and students rather than from a position of weakness.
“Even though I am stepping down as Secretary of Education, I remain a mother, vigilant and committed to the welfare of every teacher and student in the Philippines,” she said, promising to continue advocating for their interests./PN
