The Department of Education (DepEd) has released guidelines on the pilot implementation of the revised K to 10 curriculum under the K to 12 program starting this school year. 

Signed by Undersecretary for Curriculum and Teaching Gina Gonong, DepEd issued Memorandum No. 54, s. 2023 or the Pilot Implementation of the MATATAG Curriculum dated Sept. 8.

The issuance outlined the objectives of the pilot implementation, how participating schools will be selected, the orientation and capacity building for teachers and other personnel, funding requirements, as well as assessment, monitoring, and evaluation.

Why pilot test?

The revised curriculum for Kindergarten to Grade 10 (K to 10), officially called the “MATATAG Curriculum will be implemented starting School Year (SY) 2024-2025.

READ: 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/8/12/understanding-dep-ed-s-matatag-k-to-10-curriculum

Anchored on the “MATATAG Agenda” which was launched as the new direction of the DepEd towards improving the quality of basic education in the country, the rollout of the revised K to 10 curriculum is part of the government’s efforts for learning recovery.

The new K to 10 Curriculum features a decongested curriculum and focuses on foundational skills.

By reducing learning areas; the MATATAG Curriculum aims to have balanced cognitive demands and clearer articulation of 21st-century skills.

It was also designed to intensify Values Education and Peace Education, and to help ensure that the country’s basic education system is on a “par with international standards.”

READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2023/01/30/deped-launches-matatag-agenda-to-resolve-challenges-in-basic-education/

DepEd said The MATATAG Curriculum will be implemented in phases: Kindergarten, Grades 1, 4, and,7 for SY 2024-2025; Grades 2, 5, and 8 for SY 2025-2026; Grades 3, 6, and 9 for SY 2026-2027; and Grade 10 for SY 2027-2028.

The Senior High School (SHS) Curriculum, DepEd said, is still “currently undergoing review.”

DepEd said the main objective of the pilot implementation is to “gain valuable insights that will inform the implementation of the MATATAG Curriculum on a larger scale.”

During the pilot implementation, DepEd hoped to determine the support needed by teachers and school leaders to effectively implement the MATATAG Curriculum and identify challenges, issues, or gaps that may arise to address them appropriately.

How will schools be selected?

DepEd said that the MATATAG Curriculum would be piloted in seven regions this SY before its phased implementation next year.

READ: 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/8/10/dep-ed-to-start-pilot-implementation-of-matatag-k-to-10-curriculum-this-year

The MATATAG Curriculum will be piloted in selected schools in Regions I, II, VII, XII, the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), the CARAGA region, and the National Capital Region (NCR) starting this school year, DepEd said.

“Other regions may participate when deemed necessary,” DepEd added.

DepEd said pilot schools have been “selected to ensure a diverse representation of public elementary and secondary schools” in the NCR, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

“Schools have been categorized by enrollment size to include small, medium, and large schools,” DepEd explained.

Community socio-economic status has been factored in, categorizing schools into high, medium, and low poverty incidence areas, it added.

DepEd noted that the “meticulous approach to school selection aims to create a well-rounded pilot program that reflects the diversity and complexity of the Philippine education landscape.”

The list of participating schools, DepEd said, will be announced in a separate memorandum.

What about orientation and capacity building?

For the pilot rollout, DepEd said teachers, school heads, department heads, Public Schools District Supervisors (PSDS), Education Program Supervisors (EPSs), Curriculum and Learning Management Division (CLMD) Chiefs, Curriculum Implementation Division (CID) Chiefs of the participating schools, schools division offices (SDOs) and regional offices (ROs) will undergo orientation.

To further support teachers, DepEd said technical assistance will also be provided including the conduct of regular collaborative expertise sessions through Learning Action Cells (LACs).

DepEd added that the National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP) will support the capacity-building activities for teachers and school leaders.

A total of P7.9 million in support funds was allocated for the conduct of orientation training for the pilot implementation of the MATATAG curriculum.

Teaching, learning resources, and assessment

DepEd said teaching-learning resources such as lesson exemplars and learning activity sheets will be provided to teachers and learners in the pilot schools.

“Other learning resources may still be used to supplement the teaching and learning process,” DepEd said.

DepEd has allocated P39.2 million for the printing and production of learning resources for the pilot implementation of the MATATAG curriculum. “Additional funds for the printing/production of LRs for the pilot implementation of MATATAG curriculum shall be further downloaded, when necessary,” it added.

During the pilot implementation, DepEd said teachers will regularly conduct formative and summative assessments to “monitor learners' progress vis-a-vis the learning competencies and provide appropriate instructional support.” 

RELATED STORY: 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/9/4/are-we-ready-to-pilot-new-k-to-10-curriculum