PASIG City Rep. Roman Romulo backed the proposal to merge subjects in the Kinder to Grade 3 curriculum.

“Agree po ako fully doon sa bagong [proposal], alam ninyo po matagal na po naming sinasabi, pagdating sa Grades 1 to 3, kailangan nating bawasan ang subject. Kailangan pong mag-focus tayo sa functional literacy at sa reading, reading, reading, at sa mathematics ,” Romulo said.

The lawmaker believes that the change will result in exponential learning growth of learners because it will mean more time and opportunity to focus on functional literacy.

The Department of Education proposed to merge Araling Panlipunan or social studies with the Music, Arts, Physical Education and Health or MAPEH which shall be called Sibika, Kultura, Kasaysayan at Kagalingang Pangkatawan or SIKaP.

It said that the integration will provide learners and teachers ample time to strengthen functional literacy, and help learners develop personal and cultural consciousness.

“Kailangan talaga ‘yung ating mga mag-aaral ay matutukan natin ang reading comprehension at mathematics at siyempre ‘yung pakikitungo nang tama sa ibang tao, kasama po talaga ‘yan,” Romulo said.