Congress to check Cordi indigenous curriculum

By Georaloy I. Palao-ay

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Education stakeholders in Cordillera Administrative Region will signify support to K to 12 implementation and Indigenous Peoples Education (IPEd) here Oct. 3 to 4 during the Regional Basic Education Congress at the Dept. of Education regional office in Barangay Wangal.

The DepEd – CAR will study milestones in integration of IPEd in K to 12 curriculum as and recognize support of local leaders, regional line agencies, elders, and stakeholders in its pursuit to quality, accessible, and culture-sensitive education.

The DepEd will unveil a refined IPEd plan which details steps and aspirations of IPEd from 2016 to 2021 during the first day.

DepEd regional director Beatriz G. Torno will report on state of basic education in the Cordillera.

“This event will not only showcase the rich culture here in the Cordilleras but also bring to the fore the important contributions of our community elders, teachers, and schools in the identifying of worthwhile knowledge, skills, and attitudes to be integrated or contextualized into the K to 12 curriculum,” said the director.

Torno added it will be an opportunity for sharing best practices and experiences in implementation of K to 12.

“We would also like to present to our stakeholders indigenized learning resources which are available online using the region’s Learning Resource Management and Development System (LRMDS),” she added.

The DepEd unveiled a six-year plan or roadmap in 2011 enumerating the activities and strategies to make basic education in the region sensitive to its culture.

One achievement was presence of indigenized learning materials for use in schools.

The congress will kick off with a “Honga”, an Ifugao ritual invoking blessings and prosperity as well as a thanksgiving rite, followed by the opening of exhibits and booths. The booths which will not only display products from the different provinces but will also present their efforts in K to12 implementation.

On the same day, the Best Brigada Eskwela implementers and finalists will be feted.

The awardees in the elementary level are Monamon Proper Elementay School in Mt. Province, Lamut Central School in Ifugao, and Loo Elementary School in Benguet.

Awardees in the secondary level are Mataragan National Agricultural School in Abra, Tublay School of Home Industries in Benguet and Tabuk City National High School in Tabuk City.

The second day will be filled with sharing of success stories of Alternative Learning System (ALS) graduates, scholarship grantees, entrepreneurs, and even research studies.

In the afternoon, the Teachers’ Got Talent the IP Way will be an opportunity to close National Teachers’ Month with contests in ethnic dance, musical renditions and indigenous games.

The DepEd recognizes the Cordillera as the leading implementer of Indigenous Peoples Education.

Other regions have had their benchmarking in previous years.