“SINCE when did they change their agency’s name into Department of MISeducation?”
Kabataan Party-list first nominee, Atty. Terry Ridon, mockingly asked referring to the Department of Education (DepEd).
He said this after DepEd’s action to drop Science subjects for the incoming Grade 1 and 2 students under the implementation of the K-12’s new curriculum.
DepEd says that it is merely integrating the subject into other areas, yet this effectively degrades and removes the importance science has on basic education.
“Long before K-12 was ratified, we had foreseen that it will only cause more crises to the Filipino youth and to their parents. Now, here comes a more alarming issue of removing a very important subject during the formative years of our youths” Ridon said.
“We agree that learning should not be too stressful and should be child-friendly, as what Secretary Luistro said. But Science subject, as it is, can be taught in a child-friendly manner. It’s as if it’s impossible for science to be enjoyed by children” Ridon added.
One of the reasons stated by Education Secretary Armin Luistro for effectively removing Science subject in Grade 1 and 2 is “to make learning more enjoyable.”
Ridon reiterated that the K-12 program is designed to focus on manufacturing semi-skilled workers alongside the general labor export policy of the administration. He stressed that “the government is creating a generation devoid of curiosity and only taught what is necessary for corporations, especially foreign ones, to extract profit from. Learning in general is not important to them”
“Children, especially in their early years, are very curious of their surroundings. And this is how Science subject becomes so important in their education. Maybe Secretary Luistro should see that for himself to so he will realize that Science subject can be really fun for kids to learn,” Ridon said.
Aside from wanting to make learning “more fun,” Luistro also said that removing Science subject in the early years of basic education is part of their plans to “decongest” the curriculum.
“From their line of thinking, we can say that the only way to decongest our curriculum is to deprive our children with learning. If that is their solution and that is how they treat the education system, we should not stop from repealing this education program and help save the future of the Filipino youth,” Ridon concluded.