Win urges DepEd to assess all learning materials, remove discriminatory material

Senator Win Gatchalian is strongly urging the Department of Education’s Bureau of Learning Resources to conduct a nationwide assessment of all learning materials produced by divisions to identify and correct erroneous materials before distribution.

“The discriminatory language describing Igorots in some learning materials shows the urgent need for the DepEd to revamp its quality assurance process to ensure that it does not tolerate all indications of discrimination,” the chair of the Senate basic education panel said.

“This requires mobilization of all units concerned with learning resource development, including the Curriculum Implementation Division at the division level and the Curriculum Learning and Management Division at the regional level, to ensure thorough vetting of our learning materials,” he added.

Gatchalian made the statement in response to alleged discriminatory learning material in DepEd modules about indigenous peoples in the Cordillera region.

In the book titled “Masayang Buhay (Binagong Edition 2001), an image of a man with black curly hair was shown saying, “Isa akong Igorot. Kulot na kulot ang itim kong buhok.”

The publisher, Saint Matthew’s Publishing Corporation, said it pulled out the books in 2018 after it was criticized and that the book is no longer in circulation.

It also apologized to the public due to the incident.

“While the DepEd already recalled the learning materials in question, reports of errors that have mounted since the beginning of the school year exposes weaknesses in the department’s quality assurance process. DepEd has found itself in a cycle of printing and distributing erroneous modules that end up drawing criticisms and being recalled,” Gatchalian said.

“This adds to the confusion of our learners who are already struggling amidst the distance learning setup. Worse, these exercises which provoke outrage perpetuate stereotypes that have long hounded different sectors of our society,” he said.

“Sinasalamin ng ating mga learning materials ang kalidad ng ating edukasyon kaya dapat nating siguruhin ang lahat ng hakbang upang matiyak na ang mga ito ay wasto at may paggalang sa lahat ng kultura at sektor ng ating lipunan,” Gatchalian added.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)