Teachers want History, Filipino subjects back in curriculum

MANILA, Philippines — A teachers’ organization has pushed for the return of Philippine history and Filipino and Philippine literature as required subjects for high school and college students, respectively. 

In a statement in time for National Heroes’ Day on Aug. 26, the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) described the removal of the subjects in the education curricula as a blasphemy of the Filipino history and identity. 

“Now that the country simultaneously commemorates Buwan ng Wika and the National Heroes’ Day, there is no better way to celebrate this than to impress upon the hearts and minds of every Filipino our history, the patriotism of our heroes, our knowledge in terms of arts and literature, our hundreds of years of appreciation of our native languages,” TDC chair Benjo Basas said in Filipino. 

“It is a blasphemy of our history and national identity that these are neglected by the very government agencies that should be in charge of developing our national patrimony, nationalism and appreciation of our own culture,” Basas added. 

Philippine history was removed from junior high school when K-12 basic education reform program was implemented.