DepEd core values: What lies ahead?

Secondary School Teacher I Doña Hortencia Salas Benedicto National High School, Division of La Carlota City

I BELIEVE that we teachers do not merely come to school to work. First of all we go to school to teach. And there’s a big difference between working per se and teaching. Inasmuch as we believe that we deserve to receive a just salary, we much more certain that we exist for a much meaningful reason – because we play a significant role in building a better society.

We teach our students in the hope that when they finish their education, they will be equipped with certain amount of knowledge and experiences that would make them become better people and build a better society. I am with the Department of Education in its vision, “We dream of Filipinos who passionately love their country and whose values and competencies enable them to realize their full potential and contribute meaningfully to building the nation.” Nurturing every child to be MakaDiyos (Expresses one’s spiritual beliefs while respecting the spiritual beliefs of others and shows adherence to ethical principles by upholding truth), Maka-Tao (sensitive to individual, social and cultural differences, and demonstrates contribution toward solidarity), Maka-Kalikasan (cares for the environment and utilizes resources wisely, judiciously and economically) at Makabansa (demonstrates appropriate behavior in carrying out activities in school, community and country) would make this dream a

reality. What a wonderful society shall it be if every Filipino student carries out these core values!

Looking at our students, we see faces of unique individuals, all with varied potentials, of whom if given the chance, will create their own sunshine. However, feedback from some of the members of “crème de la crème” say academics has become the center of the learning process. They are too enthused to the fact that academic grade define one’s future in life.

But not all can excel at a certain field. In many sessions and trainings that I have attended, it has been reiterated that each child has the potential to shine and excel in their chosen track, and within their own phase. Teachers must be able to appreciate that the reason why students go to school is to learn, so that they may be highly functional members of society in the near future. The beauty of education must not be viewed upon the credence that it is a way for them to secure their own future but an opportunity for them to create a better society. Will they be conforming to the norms that are not even accurate at some point, or stand for the change that is needed for the system to be more functional? The choice lies in what the students have learned within the four corners of the classroom – and beyond.

I do my own share for the future by conveying to my students that if we want to

have a better society, we must be better, too. But there are moments when I reflect, I ask myself, “Do we teachers really make better people out of our students?” Reality seem to slap me when I see my students competing with each other to the top as they vie for the gold medal at the end of the school year, or talk to a graduating student who dreams of becoming a doctor so he becomes wealthy, or look at the student leader envision themselves getting the highest position as they perceive it as the coolest way to get the regard and respect they deserve.

What could have gone wrong? As we go far, we tend to forget the basics. The world of academics and skills seem to swallow everything these kids used to learn in kindergarten. The future society is now. The future in the classroom is now. This is education’s moment. The essential questions we need to ask ourselves are: What do we value in terms of the skills and knowledge our students need to have when they leave school? What sort of citizens do we want them to be? How will we ensure we overcome disadvantage and avoid the risks of further equity gaps? And what sort of world do we want them to create in the future?

Now these questions bring us back to the beginning: all we dream to make is a world of Maka-Diyos, Maka-Tao, Maka-Kalikasan, and Makabansa. ( Paid article)