DepEd initiates pilot implementation of Matatag Curriculum in 35 schools across seven regions

IT’S all systems go for the implementation of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) pilot implementation of the revised K to 10 curriculum, also known as the Matatag curriculum, in seven regions for a total of 35 schools.

“On the readiness of schools for the pilot implementation of the Matatag Curriculum, our Curriculum and Teaching Strand has completed the training for teachers who will handle these classes,” the DepEd said.

It added that schools and Schools Division Office (SDO) personnel who will be part of the implementation, monitoring and assessment have also been oriented.

“Lesson exemplars and learning activity sheets will be utilized, including all readily available learning resources mapped and aligned with the competencies of the revised curriculum,” DepEd also said.

Likewise, fund support for the implementation were also downloaded to the participating regions.

“Strengthening of expertise among teachers through collaborative activities like Learning Action Cell sessions are already in place to aid teachers in the delivery of teaching-learning process,” the DepEd assured.

Earlier, DepEd Assistant Secretary Francis Cesar Bringas said the pilot testing is going to be part of their research to see challenges, issues and gaps.

This will ensure, he said partly in Filipino, that when the curriculum is implemented next school year, “implementation in the succeeding years until we finish in 2028” will be very smooth.

Teachers’ skills will be the key to the success of the pilot testing in 35 schools in seven regions in the country, he added.

“Our preparations are focused on teachers because we need to train them in the new curriculum guides as well as lesson exemplars,” he said.

The 35 schools are Calafug Elementary School in Apayao, Rizal Elementary School and Dona Aurora Elementary School both in Baguio City, Lam-ayan Integrated School and Bineng National High School in Benguet, Dampalit Integrated School, Santiago Syjuco Memorial School, Muzon Elementary School, Tinajeros National High School and Santiago Syjuco Memorial ISS School all in Malabon City, Cabaruan Integrated School, Caba Elementary School, Acao Elementary School, Casacristo National High School and Don Rufino Olarte Memorial National High School, all in La Union, Cauayan North Central School in Cauayan City, Isabela, Dingading Integrated School, Villa Teresita PS, Lanna National High School and General Emilio Aguinaldo High School, all in Isabela.

The revised curriculum will also be pilot-tested in the Tindog Integrated School, San Fernando North Central School, Tabogon Central Elementary School, Dumanjug National High School and Liloan National High School, all in Cebu.

In Mindanao, the schools are Mlang Pilot Elementary School in North Cotabato, Lamlifew Integrated School, Alegria Central Elementary School, Malalag National High School-Upo Annex, Alegria National High School all in Sarangani, Baobaoan Integrated School and Pedro Duncano National High School in Butuan City, Suyangan Elementary School in Surigao Del Norte, and Santiago Central Elementary School and Socorro National High School, both in Agusan Del Norte.

“We use different typologies of schools so that pilot testing is more robust,” Bringas explained, when asked about the criteria used by DepEd in identifying and choosing the schools for pilot testing of the Matatag curriculum.

To ensure the success of the pilot study, the DepEd earlier said research studies would also be conducted with the help of the think tank Philippine Institute of Developmental Studies, the Assessment, Curriculum and Technology Research Center (ACTRC), and the Philippine Normal University-Research Center for Teacher Quality with the SiMERR National Research Centre in Australia.

Image credits: Bernard Testa