ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro on Monday (29 July 2024) called for the scrapping or at least the suspension of the Matatag curriculum, citing concerns over excessive workload for teachers.

The lawmaker made this urgent appeal during her Bisita Eskwela rounds in Quezon City schools as the new School Year 2024-2025 commenced.

“The Matatag curriculum, in its current form, is poised to overwhelm our already overburdened teachers with an unsustainable workload. We cannot, in good conscience, implement a system that threatens to compromise the quality of education and the well-being of our educators,” Castro said.

The solon emphasized that the curriculum’s implementation comes at a time when the education sector is still grappling with chronic shortages in classrooms, teachers, and learning materials – issues further exacerbated by recent calamities such as Typhoon Carina.

“Our teachers are being asked to do more with less. They’re expected to adapt to this new curriculum while simultaneously addressing learning gaps from the pandemic and coping with inadequate resources. This is simply not feasible,” she added.

The lawmaker also raised concerns about the lack of proper consultation and preparation for the Matatag curriculum’s rollout.

“Many schools have not received adequate training, yet they’re being ordered to adhere to the Matatag time allotment in class schedules. This rushed implementation is a recipe for chaos and confusion in our classrooms,” she further said.

Castro called on the Department of Education to reassess the Matatag curriculum and consider either scrapping it entirely or suspending its implementation until these critical issues are addressed.

“We need to prioritize our teachers’ capacity to deliver quality education over hasty curriculum changes. Let’s focus on addressing the fundamental issues plaguing our education system – insufficient funding, lack of resources, and the need for better support for our educators. Only then can we consider curriculum reforms that truly benefit both teachers and students,” she stressed.