THE DEPARTMENT of Education has called for the immediate correction of self-learning modules that malign Igorots.

Photos of the SLM recently went viral on social media after John Guiagui posted a question lifted from the module that discriminates against Igorots.

“Nakita mong tinutukso ng kaklase mo ang isang batang Igorot dahil sa kanyang anyo,” it said. one of the choices in the list of answers read, “Hindi ako makikipaglaro sa aking kaklase na Igorot dahil iba ang kanyang pananamit.”

Netizens were incensed, stressing that such misinformation is disrespectful and degrading to the indigenous people.

“The onset of misinformation and blunders towards Indigenous Peoples is being exacerbated by people who lack decency or respect and are blatantly ignorant of the richness of the life of IPs,” the Igorots said in a statement.

DepEd Cordillera Regional Director Estela Cariño said the misinformation in the module must be addressed.

“I am an Igorot and proud of it and we need to respond to such issues and not keep mum about it,” Cariño said.

She urged all education stakeholders to help in creating awareness on indigenous peoples and to be part of the system that correct learning materials not by “bashing or ignoring it.”

“We are disheartened that these errors circulate nationwide but we hope our collective efforts will change wrong concepts of indigenous peoples like us especially in areas that Igorots are not the majority,” she said.

Cariño encouraged netizens to use hashtag #depederrorwatch when posting complaints on social media sites.

“Not all can be seen or monitored by the Learning Resource personnel or the Curriculum and Learning Management Division especially for self-learning modules developed locally in other places,” she said.

The public can report errors on modules to DepEd through bit.ly/DepEdErrorWatch or [email protected], or Viber at 0961-6805334.