MATATAG curriculum may be amended – Angara

Metro Manila, Philippines – Education Secretary Sonny Angara is open to amending the new curriculum approved by his predecessor over teacher concerns on heavy workload.

Then education chief, Vice President Sara Duterte, launched the Kinder to Grade 10 MATATAG curriculum in August last year. It was supposed to decongest the K-12 curriculum and focus on foundational skills such as literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional skills.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers, however, said it would result in a 30 percent increase in teaching load.

Angara earlier said he had no plans of changing MATATAG to achieve “curriculum stability.” He took an opposite stance, however, during a press conference after his confirmation by the Commission on Appointments as Department of Education secretary on Wednesday.

“Pinakikinggan din natin yung mga komento dito sa Matatag curriculum, minsan wala raw pahinga. Importante rin yun na nakakapahinga yung teacher at hindi dire-diretso na 6 hours,” Angara said.

[Translation: We're also listening to the comments about the Matatag curriculum, like how sometimes there's no break. It's also important for teachers to have breaks and not go straight for 6 hours.]

“Siguro [Maybe] we will amend the curriculum going forward,” he added.

Angara said the six-hour teaching period under the Magna Carta of Public School Teachers is the maximum limit.

A department order issued by Duterte required an eight-hour workday for teachers, including six hours for actual classroom teaching.