Hoping to pave the way for a resilient and strong basic education system, the Department of Education (DepEd), under the leadership of Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte, embarked on the MATATAG education journey this year.
“Let me thank all of you for your hard work and commitment in the disposition of our functions and the realization of lasting reforms through the MATATAG agenda,” Duterte told DepEd employees during the flag-raising ceremony on Dec. 11.
The branding MATATAG was officially launched in January 2023 when Duterte delivered the first Basic Education Report (BER).
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2023/01/30/deped-launches-matatag-agenda-to-resolve-challenges-in-basic-education/
Duterte then said that the MATATAG agenda aimed to set a new direction for the Department of Education (DepEd) and stakeholders in resolving basic education challenges.
Since then, DepEd’s new battle cry for the basic education sector has been dubbed “MATATAG: Bansang Makabata, Batang Makabansa.”
“We will rally for an improved learning system in the country,” Duterte said. “Together, we will rally for every Filipino child. Para sa isang MATATAG na bayan. Para sa ating mahal na Pilipinas,” she added.
Resounding battlecry
DepEd’s MATATAG agenda has four critical components: Making the curriculum relevant to produce competent and job-ready, active, and responsible citizens; taking steps to accelerate the delivery of basic education facilities and services; taking good care of learners by promoting learner well-being, inclusive education, and a positive learning environment; and giving support to teachers to teach better.
“We know that the road will be bumpy, but our direction is clear. We know that the challenges are vast, but we Filipinos are resilient. We will overcome,” Duterte said.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2023/01/30/duterte-on-challenges-in-ph-basic-education-we-will-overcome/
On many occasions this year, MATATAG has been a resounding call of DepEd.
During the meeting with the members of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) in April, for instance, Duterte, along with DepEd officials, met with the members of EDCOM II to align priorities and agenda for the education sector.
“In order to ensure quality, accessible, relevant, and liberating basic education for our learners, we need to strengthen and sustain our collective efforts as a nation,” Duterte said. “We still have a long way to go. We need to be resilient. We need to do more,” she added.
In May, during DepEd’s Partners Convergence, Duterte rallied for the support of the agency’s partners to “stop the bleeding” of the country’s basic education system by helping to realize the goals of the agenda.
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Being a part of the MATATAG movement, Duterte said, has the power to transform lives and communities. “It means collaborating, learning, and growing together toward our shared goal of creating a better world through education,” she added.
Even during the “Brigada Eskwela” this school year, DepEd’s efforts for the maintenance of schools were also anchored on the theme “Bayanihan Para sa Matatag na Paaralan.” DepEd said the Brigada activities should focus on sustaining partnership engagement activities and ensuring their alignment with the components of the MATATAG agenda.
MATATAG curriculum
In April, DepEd released a draft of the revised K to 10 curriculum. In August, DepEd formally launched the revised K to 10 curriculum, which was also labeled as the MATATAG Curriculum.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2023/8/10/dep-ed-launches-matatag-k-to-10-curriculum
The recalibrated K to 10 curriculum was also guided by DepEd’s new battle cry for the basic education sector, which is “MATATAG: Bansang Makabata, Batang Makabansa.”
Duterte, during the launch, said that the review and revisions fulfill DepEd’s pledge to evaluate the K to 12 program following its initial implementation. “This curriculum will be integral to DepEd’s MATATAG Agenda, unveiled in January this year,” she added.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2023/8/12/understanding-dep-ed-s-matatag-k-to-10-curriculum
DepEd’s track, Duterte said, remained “fundamentally illuminated” by the wisdom behind its slogan.
“Meaning — DepEd's programs and reforms are intentionally tailored to produce competent, job-ready, active, responsible, and patriotic citizens,” Duterte said.
In the MATATAG curriculum, MA stands for “Makabagong kurikulum na napapanahon” (Modern and up-to-date curriculum); TA stands for “Talino na mula sa isip at puso” (Intelligence that comes from the mind and heart); TA stands for “Tapang na humarap sa ano man ang hamon sa buhay” (Courage to face whatever challenges life brings); and G stands for “Galing ng Pilipino, nangingibabaw sa mundo (Filipino excellence, prevailing in the world).”
While the MATATAG curriculum under the K to 12 Program will be formally implemented starting SY 2024-2025, DepEd has started the pilot implementation of the revised curriculum in 35 schools in seven regions starting in September.
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DepEd said that the MATATAG Curriculum shall be implemented in phases: SY 2024-2025 for Kindergarten, Grades 1, 4, and 7; SY 2025-2026 for Grades 2, 5, and 8; SY 2026-2027 for Grades 3, 6, and 9; and SY 2027-2028 for Grade 10.
During the pilot run, DepEd said that the MATATAG Curriculum was “met with positivity” as learners, teachers, and schools were “receptive” to the new curriculum.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2023/9/25/1st-day-of-matatag-curriculum-pilot-run-met-with-positivity-dep-ed
In November, DepEd cited “initial challenges” in the pilot run which included familiarization with competencies and producing appropriate learning materials, among others. DepEd said it continues to monitor the pilot run to address the challenges that may arise.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2023/9/9/piloting-the-matatag-curriculum
MATATAG as a long-lasting education reform
Meanwhile, the MATATAG curriculum was also highlighted by DepEd when the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) was released early this month.
In the latest cycle of PISA, DepEd noted that between 2018 and 2022, the performance of 15-year-old students in the Philippines in the three subject domains “remained stable” despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2023/12/5/pisa-2022-no-significant-improvements-seen-in-ph-students-performance
However, the PISA results once again showed Filipino students still fall behind in math, reading, and science.
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Following the 2022 PISA results, DepEd said that reforms currently being undertaken under the MATATAG agenda such as the national learning recovery program, pilot implementation of MATATAG curriculum, professional development of teachers and school leaders, career progression of teachers, removal of non-teaching tasks — among others.
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During Duterte’s term as Education Secretary, the MATATAG branding is expected to be at the center of the programs and projects under DepEd’s education reform agenda.
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