ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro on Friday challenged the incoming Department of Education Secretary to restore Philippine History as a dedicated subject in the high school curriculum.

“We in ACT Teachers Party-list have filed House Bill 8621 mandating the inclusion of Philippine History as a subject in the high school curriculum in the 18th Congress. This bill has been tackled in the committee on Basic Education and Culture gaining support from fellow lawmakers as many agreed that there is a need to bring back a dedicated subject tackling the history of our country from the local histories of provinces up to the history of our nation and how they affect our lives today,” Castro said.

“We challenge the incoming Department of Education Secretary and the next administration to ensure the inclusion of Philippine History as a subject in the high school curriculum. Join the call of thousands of academics and students in their fight against widespread dissemination of fake news and disinformation related to the Martial Law regime’s ill record. Do not use our education system as a tool for further revision of our history,” she added.

Castro explained that as part of the educational reforms under K to 12, the Department of Education through DepEd Order 20 removed Philippine History from the curriculum of high school students.

In effect, she said, discussions of events in Philippine history are only integrated in several subjects instead of an independent subject focused on teaching the narration of facts and ensuring that the students understand the implications of these events in daily lives today

“The destructive effects of the absence of Philippine History in the high school curriculum must be stressed, especially now that there are efforts of historical revisionism,” she further said.

“The youth should understand the significance of September 21, 1972, the effects of the declaration of martial rule in our country and why the people should fight the tyrannical rule of the Duterte administration and the return of the son of the Dictator in Malacañang. They should know and understand RA 10368 or the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013,” she added.

Castro stressed that the next secretary of the education department should be able to discern the importance of these subjects especially during these times of a major education crisis felt across the country.

She added that removing these subjects have played a major role in the downfall of the quality of education today.

“We challenge the next secretary of education to ensure the return of Philippine History in the high school curriculum. It is up to the government to ensure that education is a priority, that our educators have adequate support and that the curriculum does not aid historical revisionism and denialism for the sins against the Filipino people,” Castro urged.