QUEZON CITY- Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones on Wednesday underscored the Department of Education’s efforts in enriching knowledge of Philippine history through the promotion of local history and reexamining the current curriculum.
“We are emphasizing local history, and I believe in local history. Ang national heroes natin taga saan ba sila?,” the Education Chief said during the EduAksyon press conference on January 12.
Briones emphasized that DepEd is proactive in promoting national history using other forms aside from the formal lessons or books used in the curriculum.
“Only recently also we encouraged ang Department namin noong nagpalabas ang CCP ng theatre presentation on Lapu-Lapu and kami naman ay very active na nagsuport nito. So it’s not only nasa leksyon pero sa other forms of art and communication in-e-emphasize natin lagi ang history, palagi ko yan inuulit-ulit na hindi natin dapat na makalimutan na even as we catch up with digitalization and technology, and critical thinking, huwag nating kalimutan na tayo ay Pilipino,” she said.
DepEd sponsored live performances of the opera “Noli Me Tangere”. Teachers from all over the country attended opera for the first time. Learners wept over Sisa and the brothers, Crispin and Basilio.
DepEd is also a major sponsor of the Encyclopedia of the Philippine Arts of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
Education Chief noted that the Department is enriching Philippine historical events as it continues to refine and reexamine the basic education curriculum. “Ang contributors sa ating kultura at ang sense of history ay hindi lamang [responsibilidad] ng Department of Education but we are doing all that we can, especially yung gender aspect,” Secretary Briones said.
In a separate statement, DepEd said that the current Araling Panlipunan (AP) curriculum, which was approved by the last administration, covers various Philippine history topics across grade levels. The topics also serve as take-off points in all discussions in the AP curriculum of Junior High School and High School.
Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction Diosdado San Antonio also clarified that DepEd consulted social studies experts across the country regarding the decision to decongest the curriculum to make it relevant to the challenges of the 21st Century and deepen learners’ critical thinking.
“Gusto ko lang bigyang-diin na hindi kailanman inaabandona ang pagsisiguro na ang mga bata ay malalim ang pagkakaunawa sa kasaysayan ng ating bansa,” Usec. San Antonio stressed. (DepEd)
