A House leader has urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to expedite the instruction of reading comprehension to young students in response to the ongoing challenge the country faces in local and global assessments. During a session of the House committee on basic education and culture, Pasig City Representative Roman Romulo raised concerns about DepEd's perceived slow progress in teaching reading comprehension, particularly to students in Grades 1 to 3.
Romulo emphasized the need to adopt established methods for teaching reading comprehension, stating that it is a well-researched field and there is no need to devise new approaches. He expressed confusion over the delay, questioning why it has taken so long to implement effective strategies.
In response, DepEd Undersecretary Gina Gonong explained that teachers must first familiarize themselves with the revised K-10 curriculum of the K-12 program. The new curriculum includes adjustments such as the removal of mother tongue as a subject and the introduction of language and reading literacy as key areas. Gonong stressed the importance of teachers understanding this new framework before implementing changes in teaching practices.
DepEd launched the new MATATAG K-10 curriculum in August 2023, currently undergoing a trial phase in 35 schools nationwide. The revised curriculum aims to streamline learning competencies, reducing them by 70% and placing greater emphasis on foundational skills like literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional development for Kinder to Grade 3 learners.
Romulo reiterated the urgent need for DepEd to prioritize teaching reading comprehension, citing the persistent issue of low proficiency levels in reading among students. He highlighted the poor performance of students in both local and international assessments, urging DepEd to take immediate action based on established best practices in teaching reading comprehension.
