VALUES FORMATION. A teacher delivers learning competencies to the learners in this undated photo in one of Cebu province's public elementary school. Five public elementary and secondary schools will join in the pilot re-introduction of Good Manners and Right Conduct as separate subject under the Marcos administration's MATATAG Curriculum. (PNA file photo by John Rey Saavedra)
CEBU CITY – Five public elementary and secondary schools in Cebu province will participate in the pilot introduction of Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC), an education official said on Tuesday.
Senen Paulin, Cebu provincial schools division superintendent, said the pilot teaching of GMRC as a subject separate from values education is in preparation for the re-inclusion of the intensified values formation subject in all elementary and secondary schools here.
“I am very happy to tell you that a very good strong highlight is the inclusion of GMRC in the curriculum for the next school year,” Paulin said.
The five schools that will join in the pilot re-implementation of GMRC are Tindog Integrated School in Medellin town, North Central Elementary School in San Fernando town, Tabogon Central Elementary School, Dumanjug National High School, and Liloan National High School.
The subject is one of the salient features of the MATATAG (Make the curriculum relevant to produce job-ready, Active and responsible citizens; TAke steps to accelerate the delivery of basic education services and provision facilities; TAke good care of learners by promoting learner well-being, inclusiveness learning, and positive learning environment; and, Give support for teachers to teach better) Curriculum under the Marcos administration, which is aimed to decongest the K to12 curriculum and highlight the basic behavior code and character education, also known as GMRC in the learners’ basic competencies.
Paulin said the Department of Education (DepEd) will fully implement teaching GMRC to elementary and secondary students but only the five schools will serve as pilots in the re-introduction of the subject for the 2024-2025 school year.
Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte led the launching of MATATAG Curriculum on Aug. 10, 2023 in Pasay City.
The new curriculum aims to reduce the number of competencies and is more focused on the development of foundational skills such as literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional skills for Kindergarten to Grade 3.
The curriculum also underscores the intensified values formation and character development of the students in adherence to GMRC and Values Education Act as well as the articulation of 21st-century skills.
GMRC as a subject was also restored through Republic Act 11476 or the Character Education/Good Manners and Right Conduct Act of 2020. (PNA)
