SLU Takes Part in the Second Congressional Commission on Education

by Athena Grace Espino-Agapay 

Eight representatives from Saint Louis University participated in the Curriculum Validation and Teacher Consultation spearheaded by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) held last July 10-11, 2023, at the Ateneo De Manila Grade School.

In line with CEAP JEEPGY’s core value of Engaged Citizenship and CICM’s advocacy of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation, the two-day event became an avenue to listen to the voices of public and private school teachers and consolidate their viewpoints about the Philippine education system to support the commission’s task in addressing the country’s learning crisis. This sentiment was clearly expressed by EDCOM 2 Advisory Council Member Fr. Bienvenido “Ben” Nebres when he said, “Learning happens in the classroom – not in [central government offices]…Nandito kami para makinig sa inyo. We really want to learn from you.”

EDCOM 2 Validates the K-10 Curriculum

To begin the Curriculum Validation and Teacher Consultation processes, the teachers were grouped according to the subject they teach and interviewed by EDCOM 2 members and their partner organizations.

On the first day, discussions focused on the decongestion of the proposed K-10 curriculum. Fundamentals of the curriculum, effectivity of the teaching and learning approach, and the effect of language of instruction were also tackled. During the second day, teacher consultations were conducted, focusing on the teaching and learning resources, learning loss recovery, measurement of learning outcomes, and school governance issues.

EDCOM 2 was attended by 105 participants representing nine regions and 74 schools. Fifty-five teacher participants were from public schools, while 19 were from private schools. This gathering of like-minded and driven educators fosters Sustainable Development Goals 4 Quality Education and 17 Partnership for the Goals.

The Department of Education released the K-10 draft curriculum last April, with the Senior High School curriculum to follow in November. DepEd plans to implement the revised K-10 curriculum in SY 2024-2025.