Teachers to undergo training on MATATAG curriculum

MANILA - Vice President and concurrent Education Secretary Sara Duterte has assured teachers that they will have extensive training to gain mastery in delivery lessons under the MATATAG enhanced basic education curriculum which is set for nationwide implementation starting this upcoming school year 2024-2025.

Speaking during the “National Summit of MATATAG Curriculum Pilot Implementers” held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on Friday (February 16), Duterte said that since last year, the Department of Education (DepEd) has been “diligently laying the groundwork” for the implementation of the new curriculum.

Duterte said the DepEd has recently concluded the “national training of trainers” who are tasked to prepare instructional leaders from all regions for the phased rollout of the MATATAG curriculum.

“The Curriculum and Teaching Strand and the National Educators Academy of the Philippines worked together to ensure that our national trainers, including some representatives from private schools, gain a clear understanding of the curriculum, its delivery method and the science of learning,” Duterte said.

Duterte said the knowledge gained by national trainers will be downloaded to the regional and division trainers who will then train the teachers.

“In the coming weeks, we will roll out training in regions for division instructional leaders. Our trainers from the Central Office will continue to provide training support to regional and division trainers until every teacher in every school who is teaching Kinder, Grades 1, 4 and 7 next school year is reached,” Duterte said.

Launched in August last year, the revised, enhanced basic education curriculum, also referred to as the MATATAG curriculum, is set for nationwide implementation in phases although 35 selected schools from seven regions had their pilot implementation in current SY 2023-2024.

For Kindergarten, Grades 1, 4, and 7 the nationwide implementation is set to commence in SY 2024-2025; for Grades 2, 5, and 8 in SY 2025-2026; for Grades 3, 6, and 9 in SY 2026-2027; and for Grade 10 in 2027-2028.

Meanwhile, the revision of the curriculum for Grades 11 and 12 or the senior high school, is set to be done by the end of 2024, the DepEd earlier said.

To ensure the smooth nationwide implementation of the curriculum, Duterte said the training for teachers will be school-based, focusing on mastering the curriculum content and teaching strategies.

“We expect school-based trainings for teachers in the form of collaborative expertise sessions through the Learning Action Cells. We expect these sessions to happen in a supportive and respectful environment where teachers can ask questions or share insights, thereby strengthening their knowledge of curriculum content and teaching strategies,” Duterte said.

“By fostering a deep understanding of the MATATAG curriculum in all levels of our education system, we can maximize its impact and ultimately enhance the experience of our learners,” she added.

The Education chief expressed her confidence that the MATATAG curriculum would improve the quality of the basic education in the country as it decongested and instead focuses on literacy, mathematics and practical skills even in the early stages of education. -