As public schools open for School Year 2024-2025, Senator Win Gatchalian is urging the Department of Education (DepEd) to ensure the effective implementation of the MATATAG Curriculum, which entails teachers’ readiness and the availability of quality learning materials. (Contributed photo)
MANILA (PIA) — The implementation of the MATATAG curriculum goes beyond rhetoric, says Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, even as he cites the urgent need for the Department of Education (DepEd) to fully address two major concerns: the absence of pre-service among teachers and the inadequate supply of quality learning materials for students.
Citing data from the Second Congressional Commission on Education’s (EDCOM II), Gatchalian, in his capacity as chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, urged DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara to seriously consider aligning pre-service training with the MATATAG curriculum, which, according to him, requires the activation of the revamped Teacher Education Council (TEC).
Taking a cue from Republic Act 11713 (Excellence in Teacher Education Act), Gatchalian hinted at its provisions mandating TEC to improve the quality of teacher education and training in the country and establish basic requirements for teacher education programs.
“Matagal nating hinintay ang paglunsad ng MATATAG curriculum at ngayong sisimulan na natin ang pagpapatupad nito, mahalagang ibigay natin sa ating mga guro ang suportang kinakailangan nila,” said Gatchalian, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.
(We’ve waited long enough for its [Matatag Curriculum] launch, and now that we’re ready to commence, we must give all the support the teachers need.)
The senator likewise gave a premium on the need to procure sufficient quality learning materials as provided for under the proposed Senate Resolution 972, which he filed based on EDCOM II findings. Gatchalian’s SR 972 cited the need to assess the agency’s procurement of textbooks and learning materials.
Since the introduction of the K to 12 curriculum in 2013, Gatchalian claimed that the education department was only able to procure 27 of the 90 required textbook titles for Grades 1 to 10.
Moreover, only learners in Grades 5 and 6 have complete sets of textbooks for all subjects, for which DepEd made a commitment to deliver 80% of textbooks for Grades 1, 4, and 7 students by July 2024.
This year’s national budget allotted more than P700 million for the in-service training of public school teachers, administrators, and education support personnel.
To support the implementation of the MATATAG curriculum, the allocation also covers professional development programs to train teachers from kindergarten to grade 10. (JCO/PIA-NCR)
