MATATAG Curriculum

Introduction:
The implementation of the Matatag Curriculum as the department and our Deped
Secretary VP Sarah Duterte as she speaks at the launching of the Matatag K to 10
Curriculum last August 10, 2023.
According to our DepEd Secretary VP Sarah Duterte, “ The past years showed
us the alarmingly poor performance of Filipino learners in national and international
assessments.

This brought to light questions on the effectiveness of the K to 10 curriculum.

One of the issues discovered was that — the curriculum was overloaded with too many
lessons or subjects.

The curriculum required instructors to teach an excessive number of learning

competencies — with very limited time available for instruction.

Both teachers and learners were overburdened with lessons and other school tasks and
activities.

The result was devastating for our learners. It compromised their mastery of
fundamental skills such as reading and solving simple math problems.

These issues, along with other existing factors and conditions, contributed to our
learning losses.

And to avert further learning losses, the curriculum had to undergo necessary revisions.

And today, we are happy to announce the completion of the review of the K to 10
curriculum.

And we are also happy to announce that today, we officially launch the K to 10
curriculum, and we will call this — The MATATAG curriculum. “

https://www.ovp.gov.ph/post/vpsd-speech-launch-matatag-k-10-curriculum
Definition of the problem:
Some issues or problems raised in the implementation of the Matatag
Curriculum, and these issues are;

 Is there a need for the implementation of the Matatag Curriculum?

 Are students/learners most especially teachers ready for the implementation of
the curriculum?
As the DepEd Secretary VP Sarah Duterte confidently spoke about the
implementation of the Matatag Curriculum, there are factors and effects in the alarming
poor performance of our students/learners both in national and international
assessments, this was evidently in the PISA results, where out of 81 countries
Philippines was ranked 77.

Based on Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department House of

Representatives February 2024 (No. 11), “ Assessing the performance of the Philippine
education system is a complex task owing to the magnitude of issues and challenges
the sector is facing. One indicator of the country’s state of basic education is the
performance in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) which
showed dismal bottom ranking of the Philippines - 78/78 in 2018 and 77/81 in 2022. “

Historical perspective:
Decongestion of learning competencies was also one of the aspects being
investigated in the mastery of learning areas being taught in school to carry out the
Matatag Curriculum.

Among its key features is the “decongestion” of the learning competencies,

including the reduction of subjects from Kinder to Grade 3 to focus on
foundational skills such as oracy and numeracy.

It will also intensify values education and strengthen peace education, which
will be integrated in different subjects.

“The review was an extensive and painstaking process that demanded the
collaboration of education stakeholders. The review and revisions fulfill the
Department of Education’s pledge to evaluate the K-12 program following its
initial implementation,” Duterte said in her speech.
The organization’s stance:
Based on the Bureau of Curriculum Rationale,“ The K to 12 Program is not without
challenges. Results of both national and international standardized assessments reveal no
improvement in the academic performance of Filipino learners (Schleicher, 2018; Mullis,
Martin, Foy, Kelly, & Fishbein, 2020; UNICEF & SEAMEO, 2020). Moreover, the emergence
of copious compelling research on the nature of learners and the process of learning emphasizes
the need for basic education institutions to keep abreast of global future trends while addressing
the changing needs and learning challenges of children (Jorgenson, 2006). These, in turn,
prompted a reexamination and enhancement of the K to 12 curricula in order to identify points
for improvement to ultimately lift the quality of basic education. The Department of Education,
with the Assessment Curriculum and Technology Research Centre (ACTRC), has undertaken the
process of reviewing the intended curriculum in order to verify claims about and solve existing
gaps in the document. As a result, the Shape of the MATATAG Curriculum is therefore crafted to
communicate the process behind the curriculum review and revision, and more importantly, set
the future direction and provide a basis for developing the shaping papers for each learning
area. “

Proposed solutions:
The purpose of the implementation of the Matatag Curriculum was specified by the
department improving the curriculum focusing on foundational skills and embedding
peace competencies, building more resilient schools and classrooms, strengthening
inclusive education programs, advocating for teachers’ additional benefits, and
providing professional development programs, among others.

Conclusion:
The implementation of the Matatag Curriculum was the solution and answer to
issues or problems faced by the Department of Education. Its vision and mission in
equip teachers to provide quality and effective learning to happen in the department.
References:
https://www.ovp.gov.ph/post/vpsd-speech-launch-matatag-k-10-curriculum
https://cpbrd.congress.gov.ph/images/PDF%20Attachments/Facts%20in%20Figures/
FF2024-11_Philippines_Perf_in_the_2018_and_2021_PISA.pdf
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/08/11/2287777/decongested-k-10-curriculum-
launched#:~:text=Among%20its%20key%20features%20is,be%20integrated%20in
%20different%20subjects.\
https://www.academ-e.ph/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/GENERAL-SHAPING-PAPER-
2023.pdf

Position Paper Grading Rubric

This is how position papers will be rated.
5 4 3 2 1 Comments

Organization / Well organized; Well organized; Lacks Lacks No organization;

Language easy to follow; somewhat easy organization; organization; incomprehensible
each paragraph to follow; each not easy to paragraphs language.
has a particular paragraph has follow; show little
focus; eloquently a particular paragraphs focus; language
written. focus; well tend to deviate and
written. and digress; grammatical
adequately errors create
written. confusion.

Content Demonstrates an Demonstrates Demonstrates Demonstrates Delegate shows no

understanding of an some limited understanding or
issues to an understanding understanding understanding fails to address
exceptional level; of issues; of issues; some of issues; issues.
claims clearly claims claims claims not
supported by supported by supported by supported by
research; delegate research; research. research.
maintains delegate
argumentative maintains
ethos. argumentative
ethos.

Resolution Delegate clearly Delegate Delegate Delegate Delegate presents

Ideas presents unique presents presents presents no potential
and thoughtful thoughtful somewhat nonsensical resolutions.
resolution ideas. resolution thoughtful resolution
ideas. resolution ideas.
ideas.

Academic Consistent with Mostly Somewhat Somewhat Inconsistent with

Philosophy assigned position; consistent with consistent with inconsistent position; sources
adequate number assigned assigned with position; neither used nor
of quality sources position; quality position; sources used cited.
are used; sources sources used; questionable but not cited.
are properly cited. sources are sources used;
 cited. sources are
cited.

Prepared by:
AMOR P. NACPIL