LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – ACT-CIS Partylist Representative Eric Yap is set to file a resolution that will seek an explanation from the Department of Education (DepEd) regarding learning modules that reportedly malign Igorots.
Yap said there are photos circulating that show particular pages of the modules depicting Igorots in a supposed degrading manner.
"I strongly condemn these photos circulating online. It is unbelievable that these made its way to the learning modules of our students," said Yap who is currently Benguet’s caretaker in Congress.
“What message are we sending our students reading these? Okay lang na ma-bully ang bata dahil sa kanyang anyo? Okay lang ma-discriminate dahil sa kasuotan? Sa murang edad ng mga estudyante, ito ang ituturo natin? If we do not act on this, the day will come that our heritage and culture in Cordillera will die a natural death because it will be perceived as something that should be ashamed of. We will not allow that to happen,” added Yap.
DepEd-CAR Regional Director Estela Cariño is urging the public to report incorrect notions or information, including faulty modules.
“When a wrong concept keeps repeated, this might be accepted as the truth that is why we need to respond to it right away and for those responsible to correct it immediately,” Cariño said. “I am an Igorot and proud of it and we need to respond to such issues and not keep mum about it.”.
While there were issues with the SLMs in terms of their content during the first quarter, DepEd Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction Diosdado San Antonio recently told the Manila Bulletin that “we addressed them and made sure that further materials would be quality assured.”
Due to the ongoing health situation in the country brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, DepEd is implementing distance learning as a major component of learning delivery to 22.7 million students who enrolled in public schools this school year.