MANILA, Philippines — Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the implementation of the Matatag curriculum will continue but the revised study program will be amended based on the experience of teachers and students.
"So, whatever the learnings are for that first year, the process is iterative. Meaning, we are willing to change as we go along, as we learn from the experience of actual --- on the ground," Angara said during the Malacañang Insider program hosted by Palace Press Briefer Daphne Oseña-Paez.
"And then we get feedback also from our teachers and students on what needs to be changed, what can be improved," he added.
The Education chief said that the revised curriculum was a product of several years of study.
"We continue it. This is the product of several years of studying. And the direction, we are continuing direction," Angara said.
The Matatag Agenda was launched as the new direction of the Department of Education (DepEd) towards improving the quality of basic education in the country, according to a memorandum issued last year.
To help attain the commitments articulated in the Matatag Agenda, the Education department has adopted DepEd Order 013, issued in 2023 or the Adoption of the National Learning Recovery Program. This includes the implementation of the revised curriculum, otherwise known as the Matatag Curriculum.
The Matatag curriculum, which was crafted during the stint of Vice President and former Education secretary Sara Duterte, aims to "produce competent, job-ready, active, responsible and patriotic citizens."
Launched in August 2023, this decongested basic education program emphasizes foundational skills in literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional development during early education years.
It integrates lessons on good manners and right conduct, values education, peace education, and emphasizes 21st-century skills.
Key revisions in the K to 10 program include reducing competencies and focusing more on literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional skills for Kinder to Grade 3 learners.
The current curriculum encompasses seven competencies: Mother Tongue, Filipino, English, Mathematics, Araling Panlipunan, MAPEH (Music, Arts, Physical Education and Health), and Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao.
For Kindergarten, Grades 1, 4 and 7, the nationwide implementation is this School Year (SY) 2024-2025; for Grades 2, 5 and 8 in SY 2025-2026; for Grades 3, 6 and 9 in SY 2026-2027 and for Grade 10 in 2027-2028.
Meanwhile, the revision of the curriculum for Grades 11 and 12 or senior high school, is set to be done by the end of 2024.