Viral ‘ask a person who experienced the Spanish era’ material not ours --- DepEd


The learning material asking students to interview someone who experienced the Spanish period was “not developed nor quality-assured” by the Department of Education (DepEd).

(Image courtesy of DepEd)

DepEd issued this clarification regarding a circulating image of a supposed DepEd module asking students to interview someone from the Spanish era in a statement issued Feb. 1.

Upon verification by the DepEd Error Watch, the agency found that the “material in question was not developed nor quality-assured by the Department or any DepEd office.”

DepEd Error Watch is an initiative launched by the agency in October 2020 to keep track of the concerns on modules found in learning materials used by students and rectify these, if necessary.

“We are now investigating the matter and are continuously coordinating with all concerned offices to find the source of the said module,” DepEd said.

DepEd was referring to a photo of a learning material asking learners to finish a specific activity with their respective groups.

In the learning material, the students were instructed to “interview” or “ask a person who experienced the Spanish era.” The activity also directed the learners to let the said interviewee share “how they managed during those times.”

After interviewing “someone from the Spanish era,” the learners were given an option to summarize the said interview by gathering all the “facts or ideas.” They were also expected to “make a generalization on this.”

Learners may also choose to “show or act” by making a “role-play of the possible scenes during the Spanish era.”

The learning material, which has been making rounds online, continues to get various reactions from netizens.

Following this, DepEd reminded the public to be more vigilant about fake news as well as other “unverified information” that circulates online as the agency continues to be criticized for a learning module it supposedly developed.

Likewise, DepEd also urged education stakeholders to address concerns or issues found in self-learning modules (SLMs) using the proper channels.

“We call on our parents and other stakeholders to promptly raise issues about learning modules directly to their schools or through the DepEd Error Watch so that we can take action and respond to similar cases as immediately as possible,” the department said.

Concerns or issues on SLMs may be reported to DepEd by sending an email to [email protected].

DepEd can also be reached through text and Viber (0961-680-5334) and Facebook Messenger: DepEd Error Watch (@depederrorwatch) for reports on modules and other learning materials used by students in basic education.