PH history in curriculum
THERE IS a pending bill in the 18th Congress, House Bill 8621, mandating the inclusion of Philippine History as a subject in the high school curriculum. This bill has been tackled in the committee on Basic Education and Culture and gained support from lawmakers. Many agreed that there is a need to bring back a dedicated subject tackling the history of our country from the local histories of provinces up to the history of our nation and how they affect our lives today. The incoming Department of Education Secretary and the next administration are being challenged to ensure the inclusion of Philippine History as a subject in the high school curriculum. Join the call of thousands of academics and students in their fight against widespread dissemination of fake news and disinformation related to the Martial Law regime’s ill record. Do not use our education system as a tool for further revision of our history.
As part of the so-called “educational reforms” under K to 12, the Department of Education through DepEd Order 20 removed Philippine History from the curriculum of high school students. In effect, discussions of events in Philippine history are only integrated in several subjects instead of an independent subject focused on teaching the narration of facts and ensuring that the students understand the implications of these events in our daily lives today. The destructive effects of the absence of Philippine History in the high school curriculum must be stressed, especially now that there are efforts at historical revisionism. The youth should understand the significance of September 21, 1972, the effects of the declaration of martial rule in our country and why the people should fight tyrannical rule. They should know and understand Republic Act 10368 or the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013. The next Secretary of the Education department should be able to discern the importance of these subjects especially during these times of a major education crisis across the country. Removing these subjects have played a major role in the downfall of the quality of education our youth receive today.
We challenge the next secretary of education to ensure the return of Philippine History in the high school curriculum. The government must ensure that education is a priority, that our educators have adequate support and that the curriculum does not aid historical revisionism and denialism for the sins against the Filipino people.