”Good Manners and Right Conduct” to make a comeback in New

Normal
26 June 2020 08:58:15 AM

The teaching of “Good Manners and Right Conduct” or GMRC, which was once the
bedrock of values education curriculum in the Philippines, is set to make a comeback
with the signing of Republic Act No. 11476 that institutionalizes Good Manners and
Right Conduct (GMRC) and Values Education in the Department of Education’s
(DepEd) K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum.

House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, one of the principal authors of the measure,
thanked the President and called for greater emphasis on values learning in schools.

“We thank President Duterte for signing this measure just as a new generation of
Filipino students prepare to face this new, post-COVID normal. We believe it is
essential that we teach our children, not just to be smart, but also to be good
citizens of the country. We need to strengthen their moral and spiritual fiber to help
bring out the best in them despite any crisis they may face in the future,” Cayetano
said.

As the public and private schools suspend face to face classes and shift to online or
distance learning in the “new normal”, the GMRC and Values Education law is vital in
promoting and protecting the physical, moral, intellectual, spiritual, social well-being
of every Filipino learner.

Speaker Cayetano also pointed out that with an education anchored on values and
moral uprightness, our learners can easily overcome the challenges of the current
situation and transcend to a better normal.

“While the students acquire the needed skills and knowledge to cope with the
demands of globalization and modern times, the law seeks to provide a more holistic
development and preserve the traditional values that make us Filipino. We cannot
neglect the character of our students as they grow,” he remarked.

RA No. 11476 replaces the current Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao curriculum and

mandates the creation of a separate subject for GMRC in Grades 1 to 6 with the
same time allotment as the other core subjects. Likewise, it mandates the
integration of the GMRC in the daily learning activities in the kindergarten level.

The law seeks to inculcate among the students the concepts of human dignity,
respect for oneself, and giving oneself to others in the spirit of community, role-
playing in the classroom, community immersion activities, teacher-parent
collaborative learning activities, school-initiated values formation activities,
simulated activities, and other forms of experiential learning that build character will
be introduced by the DepEd through the schools.

“When we removed the GMRC in our basic education curriculum, we also removed
an essential part of our being Filipino.
We began losing our patriotism and love for country and reduced our traditional
Filipino values to mere lessons and readings from textbooks. We need to bring these
values back into our lives,” Cayetano noted.
The newly-signed law also creates a separate subject for Values Education in Grades
7 to 10 with the same time allotment as the other core subjects and requires
integration in the teaching of classes in Grades 11 to 12.

Values Education will cover universal human, ethical, and moral values with the aim
to inculcate among students the basic tenets of the observance of respect for
oneself, others, and the elders, gender equity, ecology and integrity of creation,
peace and justice, obedience to the law, nationalism, and global citizenship. It aims
to teach the values of patience, perseverance, industry, honesty and integrity, and
good faith in dealing with others.

In addition, RA No. 11476 provides that teachers with diploma, certification, and/or
training in the field of Values Education or other related fields will be given
preference in the teaching of the subject, while DepEd will carry out appropriate
training for teachers and educators on GMRC and Values Education and provide
them with adequate and relevant instructional materials.

A whole school approach will be adopted for the institutionalization and teaching of
GMRC and Values Education as a subject, with the DepEd as the lead agency in the
implementation of the Act.###

I am both happy and excited that the implementing rules and regulations for the
integration of GMRC (Good Manners and Right Conduct) into the K-12
curriculum is already in the works.

I learned of this as I met recently with officials from the Department of Education
(DepEd) and the Division of City Schools-Manila headed by its superintendent
Magdalena Lim.

During our meeting, I specifically made known to them my intention to be an

active partner in promoting GMRC among the students of today, in line with the
direction of the national government under President Rordigo Roa Duterte.

The city government is also in full support of the Science,

Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) program to enhance the
untapped potential of students in Manila in the said fields of endeavor.

As we all know, Republic Act 11476, the GMRC and Values Education Act, was
signed in June by President Duterte. This institutionalizes GMRC as a subject
under the K-12 curriculum.

RA 11476 mandates the integration of GMRC into daily activities at

the kindergarten level. It will be taught as a separate subject from Grades 1 to 6
while students from Grades 7 to 10 will be taught Values Education into which
GMRC will be incorporated. On the other hand, Values Education will be
integrated into all subjects under the K-12 curriculum for those in Grades 11 and
12.
Let’s face it. Nowadays, good manners and right conduct are fast waning among
our youngsters while in some, they are totally gone – forgotten. It could be due to
a lot of factors like modern
culture, influence from peers or modern-day technology where children can have
access to all kinds of information via the Internet.

No longer do our younger citizens constantly practice the basic Filipino traditional
values of respect such as simply saying “po,” “opo,” “thank you” and “excuse
me.” Why, even acts of chivalry like opening the doors or giving up seats for
women and the elderly are not frequently observed anymore.

Having gone to Catholic schools where GMRC used to be taught as a

full subject, I know and value the importance of GMRC and how it shaped
me and my fellow youngsters at that time to become God-fearing citizens who
have high respect for elders, women, parents and even our peers, not only within
the school but also within the family, society, and now, in government.

Being taught these important values during one’s formative years will eventually
also instill discipline and compassion for others. From having these traits, a lot
of good things may spring such as good behaviour, integrity, morality, honesty,
discipline, respect, patriotism, civility, responsibility, and over-all good character.

The GMRC and Values Education Act was signed into law in view of the normal
setup where children spend time longest in schools. In such case, the parents or
guardians are called upon to follow through by also teaching GMRC within the
confines of the home.

However, with online classes now in place in lieu of face-to-face ones due to the
pandemic, the students are now spending more time with their parents,
guardians, and other family members.

Owing to this, I am appealing to the students’ constant companions at home to

do their share in inculcating the values of GMRC among the students.

We in the city government will do everything humanly possible to drum up full

support in promoting GMRC in and outside the school and revive them in the
hearts and minds of our young population.

Hand in hand, I know we can empower our youth for them to become good and
responsible citizens and future leaders of the country. We can do this!
The Department of Education (DepEd) welcomes the recent passage
of Republic Act 11476, or the Good Manners and Right Conduct
(GMRC) and Values Education Act. We thank our President,
legislators, and advocates for their support to DepEd in further
empowering our youth to contribute to nation-building while
protecting their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social
well-being.

Though we have been providing lessons on GMRC and Values

Education in our K to 12 curriculum, we value the vital role of RA
11476 will play in strengthening our youth’s decision-making skills,
attitude, and behaviors, especially in these critical times. We will be
teaching 313 Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCs) from
Grades 1-10 this School Year 2020-2021.

With this law, and our nation’s aspiration to guide our youth to the
right path, we look forward to raising more Filipinos who are Maka-
Diyos, Maka-tao, Makakalikasan at Makabansa.

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law institutionalizing Good

Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) and Values Education as core subjects in
the K to 12 curriculum both in public and private schools.

Under Republic Act (RA) 11476 inked by Duterte on June 25, GMRC and
Values Education replace the existing Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao (ESP)
subject.

GMRC will be taught from Grades 1 to 6 as a separate subject and will also be
integrated into the daily learning activities of Kindergarten students.

“The Department of Education (DepEd) shall introduce GMRC through clear,

distinct, specific, and concrete character building activities such as role
playing in the classroom, community immersion activities, teacher-parent
collaborative learning activities, school-initiated values formation activities,
simulated activities, and other forms of experiential learning,” the law read.

Values Education, on the other hand, will be taught as separate subject from
Grades 7 to 10 and will also be integrated into current subjects in Grades 11
to 12 under the K to 12 basic education curriculum.

According to RA 11476, Values Education will encompass “universal human,

ethical, and moral values, among others.”

“It (Values Education) shall inculcate among our students the basic tenets of
the observance of respect for oneself, others, and our elders, intercultural
diversity, gender equity, ecology and integrity of creation, peace and justice,
obedience to the law, nationalism and global citizenship, as well as the
values of patience, perseverance, industry, honesty and integrity, and good
faith in dealing with other human beings along with all other universal
values,” it said.

The new law mandates DepEd to carry out appropriate training for teachers
and educators on GMRC and Values Education, as well as to provide them
with adequate and relevant instructional materials to develop their capacity
to teach the subject.

To ensure the effective institutionalization of GMRC and Values Education in

the K to 12 curriculum, a whole school approach will be adopted to facilitate
the collaborative action in and by school community and other stakeholders
to foster parental involvement and develop home and school partnerships for
an inclusive values education framework.

DepEd, as the lead agency tasked to implement RA 11476, is also directed to

conduct an annual review to ensure the proper implementation of the law.

The report should be submitted to the committees on basic education of both

the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The initial funding for the implementation of the new law will be taken from
DepEd’s current appropriation, the law states.

The amount necessary for the continuous implementation of the law will be
includes in the annual General Appropriations Act.

RA 11476 also orders Deped to issue the necessary rules and regulations and
consult relevant stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of the
law.

“The State shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and
encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs,” the law read. (PNA)

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) must

adopt the curriculum of schools to cater to the reintroduction of good
manners and right conduct (GMRC), as it overhauls the educational
system under a so-called “new normal,” a lawmaker said on Tuesday.

Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez urged the DepEd to craft
subjects on GMRC and values education in schools, after President
Duterte signed into law Republic Act No. 11476, or the GMRC and
Values Education Act.
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“It is no longer possible to implement the law this coming school year
because the DepEd will still have to issue implementing rules and
regulations, but we have to reintroduce those subjects as soon as
possible,” he said.

RA 11476 restores GMRC and Values Education as core subjects in the

K-12 curriculum in public and private schools, and replace the
Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao subject.

GMRC will be taught from Grades 1 to 6, and will also be integrated

into the daily learning activities of preschool pupils.

Values Education will be taught from Grades 7 to 10 and to be

integrated in current subjects in Grades 11 to 12.

We value the vital role RA 11476 will play in strengthening our youth’s decision-making skills,
attitude and behaviors, especially in these critical times,” the DepEd said in a statement.