Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education(DepEd)
Region VIII(Eastern Visayas)
DIVISION OF LEYTE
JUGABAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Mabini St., Jugaban, Carigara, Leyte

STUDY NOTEBOOK
LEARNING DELIVERY MODALITIES COURSE 2

MODULE 2:
MOST ESSENTIAL
LEARNING
COMPETENCIES
(MELCs)

LESSON 1: BACKGROUND, RATIONALE, AND

__________________________________________________________
JUGABAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Carigara II District
Jugaban, Carigara, Leyte(6529)
School ID: 313307
Email address: jugabannhscarigara@gmail.com or 313307@deped.gov.ph
 DEVELOPMENT OF MELCS

Activity 1
Answer the following reflective questions.

1. The closure of schools around the world due to the global pandemic posed serious
challenges on the delivery of quality basic education. As a teacher, what do you think
are the fundamental concerns in terms of curriculum standards that need to be addressed
in order to ensure learning continuity? Cite a specific example. Do you think these
concerns could be solved by teachers alone? Why or why not?

Answer:
Our country and the world at large are facing new challenges brought
about by this unforeseen public health crisis. The Department of
Education are addressing challenges in the basic education through the
learning continuity plan. As a teacher, I believe that narrowing down
the learning competencies has become huge factor in order to deliver the
only the most essential in this time of pandemic. However, one of the
major concerns to ensure that learning continues is the implementation
process itself while considering the major response and our commitment
as a teacher in ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of our learners
in the time of COVID-19. Given the shortage of resources, schools,
teachers, and the community itself are finding means to bridge the gap.

2. Even prior to the spread of COVID-19 that eventually led to the closure of schools
nationwide, the congested curriculum has been a perennial problem of teachers
(Andaya, 2018). This is perceived to be one of the hindering factors on the poor
performance of Filipino learners. Do you agree with this observation? Why or why not?

Answer:
I agree that one of the hindering factors on the poor performance
of Filipino learners is the congested curriculum. Congested curriculum
requiring too many competencies is one of the biggest challenges
hounding the K-12 program. Because of curriculum congestion,
adequate teaching time and students’ deeper understanding are
compromised. It also prevents students from achieving sufficient
competencies in Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic, which results in the
continuous presence of non-readers and poor performance of the learners
in the high grades as well as the teacher.

__________________________________________________________
JUGABAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Carigara II District
Jugaban, Carigara, Leyte(6529)
School ID: 313307
Email address: jugabannhscarigara@gmail.com or 313307@deped.gov.ph
 Activity 2
Familiarize yourself with the course reading on the Development and Design of the
MELCs. After going through the document, provide a brief and concise response to the
following guide questions.

1. What are the general and specific purposes of the development of MELCs?

Answer:
The Department of Education, through the Bureau of Curriculum
Development has developed the most essential learning competencies
(MELCS) to address the challenges brought about by the global
pandemic. The MELCS is part of the department’s response to develop
resilient education system, especially during emergencies and will
enable DepEd to focus instruction on the “most essential and
indispensable competencies”.

2. How does curriculum review aid in the identification of essential learning

competencies?
Answer:
The review covered the following:

● Mapping of the essential and desirable learning

competencies within the curriculum;

● Identification of prerequisite knowledge and skills needed to

prepare students for essential learning competencies

● Analysis of the interconnectedness of prerequisite

knowledge and skills among the learning competencies for
each subject area.

3. What is the difference between essential learning competencies and desirable

learning competencies?

Answer:
Essential learning competencies are defined as what the students
need, considered indispensable, in the teaching-learning process to
building skills to equip learners for subsequent grade levels and
subsequently, for lifelong learning. On the other hand, desirable learning
competencies were defined as what may enhance education but may not
necessary in building foundational skills.
__________________________________________________________
JUGABAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Carigara II District
Jugaban, Carigara, Leyte(6529)
School ID: 313307
Email address: jugabannhscarigara@gmail.com or 313307@deped.gov.ph
4. How were the most essential learning competencies identified? What were the
decisions made in order to trim down the number of the essential learning competencies
further?

Answer:
These Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCS) were
identified using the criterion endurance. Enduring competencies are
those that remain with learners long after a test is completed or is useful
beyond a single test or unit of study. They also refer to learning
competencies which are essential in many professions and everyday life.
Hence, narrowing down the learning competencies is the best option the
DepEd has come up with.

5. What is the importance of the MELCs in ensuring the delivery of quality instruction?

Answer:
To ensure the delivery of quality instructions for continuity of the
learning progression of our learners, it is important to make sure that the
learning competencies needed in the understanding of succeeding
concepts in the next grade level are prioritized. The Department of
Education has made sure that with limited resources, time, and the
absence of face-to-face instructions, learners would still get the
necessary competencies the need to acquire through these MELCs.

Activity 3
Prepare a copy of your learning area’s original K-12 Curriculum Guide and
corresponding list of MELCs.
Go to the sections of the curriculum guide and MELCs that are relevant to your instructional
needs. Copy and accomplish the following table and compare the two documents to
determine which learning competencies were retained, dropped, or merged.

K to 12 Learning
Competencies
Identify dominant literary
Merged/Clustered conventions of a particular genre
HUMSS_CNF11/12-Ia-1
MELCs
Analyze and interpret the theme and
techniques used in a particular text
HUMSS_CNF11/12-Ia-3

Compare and contrast how the

elements are used in the different

__________________________________________________________
JUGABAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Carigara II District
Jugaban, Carigara, Leyte(6529)
School ID: 313307
Email address: jugabannhscarigara@gmail.com or 313307@deped.gov.ph
 genres HUMSS_CNF11/12-Ia-2

Analyze and interpret the theme and

techniques used in a particular text
HUMSS_CNF11/12-Ia-3

Create samples of the different Create samples of the different

Retained literary elements based on one’s literary elements based on one’s
experience (e.g. metaphor to experience (e.g. metaphor to
describe an emotion) describe an emotion)
HUMSS_CNF11/12-Ib-d-4 HUMSS_CNF11/12-Ib-d-4
Analyze factual/nonfiction elements
Dropped (Plot, characters Characterization, None
Point of View, Angle, Setting and
Atmosphere, Symbols and
Symbolisms, Irony, Figures of
speech, Dialogue, Scene, Other
elements and Devices) in the text

Activity 4
In your LAC Session, discuss and share your answers to Activities 1-3 in this lesson. Discuss any
questions about the MELCs that need clarification as well. Share your thoughts and let your co-
teachers articulate their insights regarding your questions. Jot down all the insights shared in the
discussion, including your own.

Insights:
 MELC’s are a long-term response to the call of SDG4. It is already
been planned even before the COVID-19 pandemic.
 There is a big difference between online learning and digital
modular distance learning.
 Strong internet connection is a big problem in online learning.
 MELC’s are comprehensively compresses

LESSON 2: UNPACKING AND COMBINING

MELCS INTO LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Activity 1
Familiarize yourself with the course reading on Unpacking and Combining the
MELCs. After reading the document, provide a brief and concise response to the
following guide questions:

1. What is the importance of unpacking and combining the MELCs?

Answer:

__________________________________________________________
JUGABAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Carigara II District
Jugaban, Carigara, Leyte(6529)
School ID: 313307
Email address: jugabannhscarigara@gmail.com or 313307@deped.gov.ph
 By unpacking and combining the MELCs, we now have a clear
path forward. This gives up a deeper understanding on how these
MELCs are selected. It will be much helpful for us to plan on how we
are going to implement our LCP more efficiently.

__________________________________________________________
JUGABAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Carigara II District
Jugaban, Carigara, Leyte(6529)
School ID: 313307
Email address: jugabannhscarigara@gmail.com or 313307@deped.gov.ph
 2. What considerations must be taken in unpacking and combining the MELCs?
Explain each.

Answer:
The Most Essential Learning Competencies should be aligned to
the content and performance standards of the all the learning areas.
Should be based on the learning needs of the learners.

3. Do all the MELCs need to be unpacked or combined? Why or why not?

Answer:
Of course, unpacking the MELCs are essential in order to have a
systematic learning activity so that the competencies needed by the
learners are not congested or repetitive.

Activity 2
1. Form a group of four members within your LAC, preferably with fellow
teachers in your respective learning area.
2. Using the curriculum guide and a list of the MELCs, choose MELCs in the
first quarter and unpack these into learning objectives.
3. Each team will present their unpacked learning objectives. Discussion and
processing will follow each presentation. Suggestions and insights from each
group will be considered in enhancing the learning objectives.

Repeat the above process but instead of unpacking, each team will now combine at
least two MELCs of their choice. Group deliberation will be observed in order to
arrive at a consensus. Discuss and jot down the synthesis of the presentations.

Attach presentation:

__________________________________________________________
JUGABAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Carigara II District
Jugaban, Carigara, Leyte(6529)
School ID: 313307
Email address: jugabannhscarigara@gmail.com or 313307@deped.gov.ph
 Activity 3
Submit your Activity 2 Outputs to your LAC Leader. Make sure to keep a
copy of your outputs.

REFLECTION

Importance of MELC
1. To ensure quality education.
2. To ensure adherence to policies and guidelines set by DepEd

Outcome
Having completed this module the participants will be able to
 understand the importance of MELCs
 compare the K12 learning competencies and MELCs to determine
which learning competencies were retained, dropped, or merged
 unpacked and combine MELCs into learning objectives

This module consist of

 Lesson 1 Background, Rationale and Development of MELCs
 Lesson 2 Unpacking and Combining of MELCs into Learning
Objectives
 LAC Session

__________________________________________________________
JUGABAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Carigara II District
Jugaban, Carigara, Leyte(6529)
School ID: 313307
Email address: jugabannhscarigara@gmail.com or 313307@deped.gov.ph