The Department of Education (DepEd) called upon all individuals, entities, or institutions procuring any learning materials to ensure that the contents of these materials conform with scientifically proven principles or are within the context of Philippine history and claims.
DepEd, in a statement issued Jan. 20, said that it has consistently advocated for the provision of accurate information to our learners based on the Philippine historical context and those with legal bases.
“Teaching historical and legal facts is one of the cornerstones of our approach to mold the beliefs, character, and love for the country of our learners,” DepEd said.
DepEd issued this statement given the numerous sources of information --- including globes, maps, reference books, storybooks, and similar publications, computer programs, and other learning materials, either from local producers or those developed and imported abroad --- made more accessible to education stakeholders.
Meanwhile, DepEd said that as it called on all education stakeholders to jointly help the agency in its efforts to equip Filipino learners with the right and precise knowledge, “we also remind everyone to exercise caution.”
DepEd stressed that it is also with great importance to “carefully assess such learning resources” --- most especially with imported learning materials.
This, DepEd said, is because these materials may “contain depictions or information that may not accurately reflect or worse, run counter to what the Philippines, as a nation, stand for on matters relating to the Philippine national territory, its historical accounts, and its people's culture, customs, and traditions.”
DepEd added that while foreign countries may have different views on matters relative to their claimed territory, “it is well to remember that we, as Filipinos, must adhere to our territory as defined by law.”