Frequently Asked Questions about MATATAG Curriculum
The phased implementation of the MATATAG curriculum started in 2024. Here, we will cover all the frequently asked questions that Philippines have been asking about the MATATAG curriculum. From its implementation to design to foundation, every point is answered here.
DepEd (the Department of Education in the Philippines) introduced the MATATAG curriculum as an educational program to improve the teaching and learning experience for all students in the Philippines.
The curriculum covers kindergarten through grade 10 and is designed to provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills to compete in the global market.
The Department of Education in the Philippines (DepEd) introduced the MATATAG curriculum.
The MATATAG curriculum guide is a detailed document that highlights all the learning standards, teaching strategies and competencies grade by grade.
For convenience, it also covers information according to subjects. It is an excellent roadmap for students and teachers alike. Along with this, there are strategies that can help teachers implement the curriculum smoothly.
MATATAG curriculum comprises of 4 components.
- Make the curriculum relevant to the 21st century to produce responsible, active, job-ready and competent Filipino citizens;
- TAke relevant steps to accelerate the delivery of basic educational services and facilities to everyone;
- TAke care of learner well-being by inculcating an environment that is inclusive and positive; and
- Give required support to the instructors and teachers to help them teach better.
The main difference between the MATATAG curriculum and K12 lies in the learning areas, competencies, focus, technology integration and content.
MATATAG focuses on technology integration along with acquiring skills relevant to the 21st century. It has 5 major learning areas as compared to 7 in the K12. Both curriculum differ in their evaluation methods also.
To facilitate instructors and teachers, DepEd has made the implementation of the MATATAG curriculum very simple. Sample Class Program is a detailed document by DepEd for each grade to give an idea of what a day in school should look like.
To help the instructors, schools, teachers and students alike, DepEd has allotted specific time to each course and prepared detailed time allotment plan for it as well. This time allotment is different for different grades. The idea behind it is to make sure that each subject is given equal attention.
MATATAG curriculum lesson plan is a sample document prepared by DepEd to provide a roadmap to Filipino teachers so that they can effectively teach students the required skills and content.
A big idea refers to “a concept, theme, or issue that gives meaning and connection to discrete facts and skills” that should serve as the focal point of curricula, instruction, and assessment.
The BIG IDEA behind the introduction of the MATATAG curriculum is to develop an effective and holistic curriculum that pushes the students to discover their full potential.
It includes sub-ideas like age-appropriate learning, teacher support, student and teacher wellbeing, making the curriculum easier to follow and developing foundational skills.
The EDP (Engineering Design Process) is a process in which the students apply their technological, mathematical and scientific knowledge to a real-life problem. They can create, evaluate, reason, and tackle real problems to come up with solutions.
The main goal of the MATATAG curriculum is to ensure that all the students develop fundamental numeracy and literacy skills by providing them with a combination of extracurricular and academic programs. It also strives to make the learning process better, more focused, dynamic and student-relevant.
Under the MATATAG curriculum, the Key Stage 1 stands for Kindergarten and Grades 1 and 2. In this stage, the focus is on developing motor, social and emotional skills along with a strong foundation in both numbers and literacy.
It includes grades from 3-6. In this stage, the foundational skills of Key Stage 1 are further developed with the introduction of concepts of Science, Music and Arts and Social Studies.
The MATATAG curriculum makes use of multiple pedagogical approaches for its effectiveness. These include: inquiry-based learning, science-technology-society-approach, problem-based learning, inclusive learning, application-led learning, multi-disciplinary learning, reflective learning and experimental learning.
The Work Application Plan (WAP) is a formal document that all teachers are required to develop to help them implement the MATATAG curriculum in teaching. The document should include: a general idea of what the curriculum is; a school-specific, professional development plan for the teachers and a commitment to implement the plan.
The 21st century skills in the MATATAG curriculum include digital literacy, creativity, collaboration, communication and critical thinking. It also puts emphasis on social studies, science and mathematics.
It is the National Mathematics Program in the Philippines. Under it, Maths is taught through the use of manipulatives.
GMRC stands for Good Manners and Right Conduct. It teaches etiquette and social values that are universally accepted by all.
The four key concepts of instructional design framework include context, creativity, collaboration and connection.
Just as the name suggests, differentiated instruction is a unique teaching method in which the instructor adjusts the teaching method according to the needs of the students. For that, they need to discover the readiness level, interest and learning profiles of each student. In this approach, each student gets equal learning opportunities.
The 4 C’s are connection, context, creativity and collaboration. Connection means to connect prior knowledge to the current one. In context, the learning should be linked to real-life problems. Creativity focuses on student-inclusive learning while collaboration includes peer learning and group work.
The Homeroom Guidance Program (HGP) is a development program that helps students from KG till grade 12 develop essential life skills. These include crisis management, social and personal development, career development and academic development. This is not a separate subject that is taught in class rather it is included in the daily classroom activities.
BLS means Basic Life Support and it teaches students the care that healthcare providers, first respondents or public safety professionals provide to people in case of a cardiac arrest, obstructed airway, case of choking or respiratory distress. It is to be taught in an age-appropriate way.
NRP stands for the National Reading Program. The program helps to improve the reading skills of teachers and students alike by providing high-quality reading material.
The principles of the MATATAG curriculum are inclusiveness, ideational, innovation and integration.
The slogan for the MATATAG curriculum is “Bansang Makabata, Batang Makabansa” which means “A Nation for the Youth, Youth for the Nation”. The nation is for the youth while the youth are for the nation.
Students will learn the fundamental concepts of cultural and personal awareness. Along with this, they will also learn skills to maintain a healthy body to meet their responsibilities as active members of any community.
It prioritized peach education and value formation to cultivate ethical and responsible citizens. It provides a positive environment to create a sense of righteousness and ethical responsibility in the learners. This will help them exist in peace in the community.
The MATATAG curriculum encourages teaching in the learner’s first language in the initial stages to make learning easy. As the stages progress to higher grades, the main medium of teaching is in Filipino and English. The learner’s first language can be used even in these grades if required.
There is a chance of issues like higher academic overload, excessive teaching demands and a too-comprehensive curriculum.
The shaping paper is a comprehensive document that provides an overview of the rationale and goals behind what drives the MATATAG curriculum in the Philippines. It addresses also the challenges which were faced in the K-12 program.
DepEd provides a proper support system to the teachers and instructors. These include professional development, teacher training and instructional material.
No. To ensure that proper implementation is done, the MATATAG curriculum is being implemented in phases. The implementation process started in 2024 and it will be completely implemented by 2027. This gradual rollout allows for careful monitoring, feedback, and necessary adjustments along the way.
In the MATATAG Curriculum, macro skills are the main language skills students need to learn. These are:
- Writing – Writing clear and organized sentences or paragraphs.
- Listening – Understanding what people say.
- Speaking – Being able to talk clearly and share ideas.
- Reading – Understanding and making sense of written texts.