January 11, 2022 – The Department of Education (DepEd) would like to reiterate that Philippine history is being taught in the K to 12 curriculum of basic education.
Contrary to recurring misleading and reckless claims, the current DepEd administration, led by Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones, did not remove Philippine history from the curriculum.
The current version of the Araling Panlipunan (AP) for K to 12 Curriculum was issued in May 2013, following the enactment of Republic Act No. 10533 or the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 of the last administration. This was before the assumption to office of the present Secretary of Education in July 2016.
The current AP curriculum covers various Philippine history topics across grade levels. These topics also serve as take-off points in all discussions relative to Asian Studies, World History, Economics, and Contemporary Issues in Junior High School and Understanding Culture, Society and Politics, and Philippine Politics and Governance in Senior High School. Generally, it is highly impossible to discuss the said subjects without even taking into consideration the Philippine historical context.
In addition, Philippine history competencies found in the curriculum are covered by textbooks and other learning resources distributed to learners. Philippine history and identity are also analyzed and explored through the lens of Philippine Literature both in English and Filipino. Contemporary topics, meanwhile, are being discussed in the Media and Information Literacy (MIL) subject.
In 2019, through DepEd Order No. 21, s. 2019, the Department integrated pre-existing policies and guidelines on K to 12 program while providing a reference point for ongoing and future review of any of the curriculum’s components.
As one of the vanguards of the nation’s culture, the Department of Education (DepEd) will not allow our learners to be robbed of the opportunity to discover our rich heritage. We also call on our stakeholders to be responsible and vigilant against misinformation at this time.
The stories of inspiring Filipino people and monumental Philippine events will continue to be ingrained in our books and during our classroom and blended learning discussions for years to come.
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