The Department of Education (DepEd) in the Philippines launched the MATATAG Curriculum to improve student learning and address long-standing issues in the education system. “MATATAG” stands for Makabuluhan, TAlagang TAnggap ng bawat Guro at magulang, which means meaningful and widely accepted by teachers and parents.
The curriculum rollout began in School Year (SY) 2024–2025 and follows a phased approach.
Let’s explore the key features and latest updates.
What’s New in the MATATAG Curriculum?
- Stronger Literacy and Numeracy Focus
The curriculum prioritizes reading, writing, and math, especially in the early grades. This aims to raise foundational skills, which are crucial for success in other subjects.
- Critical Thinking Over Memorization
Students are encouraged to solve problems, think critically, and apply what they learn. Group work and projects are now more common in classrooms.
- Simplified Lessons
Redundant and overlapping topics have been removed, helping students focus on core skills and avoid being overwhelmed.
- Holistic Education
MATATAG also includes values education, health, and social-emotional learning. The goal is to develop confident and resilient learners.
- Teacher Empowerment
Over 267,900 teachers have been trained in the new curriculum as of 2024. DepEd continues to provide support to ensure effective teaching methods.
What Do Early Results Show?
In 2023, DepEd launched a pilot test of MATATAG in 35 schools. According to a joint assessment by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) and the Assessment, Curriculum, and Technology Research Center (ACTRC):
- Competency Coverage: About 90% of expected lessons were covered in both MATATAG and non-MATATAG schools.
- Student Mastery: Students in both settings mastered roughly 81% of the competencies.
- Teacher Feedback: Teachers found the flow of lessons improved, but many are still adjusting to the changes.
While there are gains in lesson delivery, impacts on student performance remain modest.
Concerns About Functional Illiteracy and Mass Promotion
In 2024, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported that nearly 19 million high school graduates were functionally illiterate. This means they struggle with basic reading, writing, and math.
A major concern tied to this crisis is the mass promotion policy, where students are advanced to the next grade level even if they haven’t mastered the basics. Educators say this undermines learning and accountability.
Common challenges include:
- Overcrowded classrooms
- Teacher shortages
- Outdated learning materials and technology
- Low school budgets
Recommendations from Experts
To strengthen the MATATAG Curriculum and the wider education system, experts suggest:
- Focusing on literacy and numeracy in early grades
- Reducing curriculum overload and focusing on essential skills
- Improving region-specific teacher training
- Rethinking automatic promotion to ensure students meet learning goals
- Expanding tech-vocational education in high school
- Upgrading digital access and classroom tools
DepEd has already launched programs such as the Bawat Bata Makababasa and other summer remediation efforts to address learning gaps.
Updates on Senior High School (SHS) Curriculum
While MATATAG focuses on K to 10, DepEd is also revising the Senior High School curriculum, to be implemented starting SY 2025–2026. Key changes include:
- Reducing core subjects from 15 to 5–7
- Adding more electives for student choice
- Emphasizing job-ready and life skills
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is MATATAG already in all schools?
A: No. The rollout started in SY 2024–2025 and will continue through SY 2027–2028.
Q: Which grades are covered first?
A: Kindergarten, Grades 1, 4, and 7 were the first to adopt the curriculum.
Q: What’s different from the old curriculum?
A: MATATAG is simpler, focuses more on foundational skills, and includes holistic development.
Q: Are teachers supported?
A: Yes. Large-scale training sessions are ongoing, with nearly 270,000 educators trained as of 2024.
Video: The problem of illiteracy cannot be blamed solely on the curriculum — DepEd | The Big Story
DepEd Assistant Secretary Jerome Buenviaje stated that the illiteracy crisis in the Philippines is not solely caused by the school curriculum. He pointed to recent data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), which confirms a strong link between nutrition and literacy among students.
Findings from the 2024 Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey (FLEMS) show that provinces with high rates of malnutrition, including stunting and wasting, also report low literacy levels. Poor nutrition severely impacts students’ ability to learn and comprehend lessons.
Buenviaje noted that while the Matatag Curriculum aims to improve literacy, its effects won’t be fully measurable for 5 to 10 years. Additionally, mass promotion policies, which advance students despite academic struggles, have worsened the situation.
To address this, experts recommend nutrition programs, education reforms, and better teacher support.
Conclusion
The MATATAG Curriculum is a step in the right direction. It simplifies lessons, supports teachers, and promotes meaningful learning. However, real improvement will require sustained investment, strong teacher support, and clear assessment policies.
If the system continues to promote students without mastery, the curriculum’s goals may not be fully realized.
The bigger question remains: How can we ensure that no child moves forward without learning the basics first?