(SPOT.ph) In a move that has sent ripples through the educational community, the Department of Education (DepEd) has confirmed the the shift from the term “Diktadurang Marcos” to just “Diktadura” in the revised Grade 6 Araling Panlipunan curriculum, sparking concerns of potential historical revisionism.
DepEd—headed by Vice President Sara Duterte—has since opposed these allegations in an online press conference on September 11, insisting that there is no intent to rewrite history.
The internal memo is currently being implemented in schools with the pilot implementation of the revised K to 10 curriculum, but DepEd claimed it is not final and will still undergo the vetting process.
DepEd on history book change: “No revisionism here”
DepEd issued the internal memo on September 6, after having undergone scrutiny by various DepEd departments. Its Bureau of Curriculum and Development Director Jocelyn Andaya emphasized that the revised curriculum's focus is on pivotal historical events, not on specific individuals.
“There is no revisionism here. Ang pagpapalatag ng paksa ay hindi particular sa tao kung hindi mga pangyayaring pangkasaysayan. In other words, in-organize lang po natin ang curriculum guide," Andaya said in the online press conference.
“The way that our Araling Panlipunan is structured, we did not tackle per presidential admin, but bawat tema. Martial Law and dictatorship are still discussed as part of the Marcos administration."
Even if Marcos was removed from the term, Andaya explained that his name will still be included in the Araling Panlipunan lesson about dictatorship. In addition, teachers are allowed to use “Diktadurang Marcos” if they see it fit, but she mentioned the need for teachers to present opposing perspectives to "co-exist without erasing the other’s truth."
She denied any political undertones to the decision as well.
“Wala pong pressure na kahit ano na binigay sa amin… It is an academic discourse that we follow as we revise and review the curriculum,” Andaya said. When asked if Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte is aware of the proposal: “Hindi na po tinitignan ng ating secretary…ano ang mga nakalagay diyan na iisa-isahin pa niya. Ang tinitignan niya, ano ba ang framework dito pero other details hindi na.”
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Groups slam DepEd’s proposal to remove “Diktadurang Marcos”
Prior to DepEd’s confirmation, the internal memo has been lambasted by several educators and civil society groups over the weekend, with the Congress of Teachers/Educators for Nationalism and Democracy (CONTEND) calling it a “blatant example of disinformation.”
“'Diktadurang Marcos' as a term/phraseology used in the curriculum explicitly denotes that this period in contemporary Philippine history was an authoritarian rule by Marcos. This revision by the DepEd is a clear strategy of the current administration to rehabilitate the dark history of the Marcos family,” CONTENT wrote in a statement.
Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses and Martial Law (CARMMA), a coalition of martial law survivors, shared the same sentiment: "It is now undeniable that historical distortion and mass disinformation are being raised to the institutional level... Education is now miseducation. How would the people and particularly the children know who was responsible for the plunder and atrocities of martial law if Marcos is not named?”
Meanwhile, House Deputy Minority leader and ACT Teachers representative France Castro said that DepEd's proposal is "a clear violation of Republic Act 10368 or Marcos Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013.”
"By removing 'Marcos' from the term, we are denying students the opportunity to fully understand the historical context and the impact of martial law on our nation. This decision is a disservice to their education and a disservice to the pursuit of historical truth."
Although the memo is in effect in select schools, DepEd has indicated that it remains open to continuous review, with Andaya noting that curriculum specialists are engaged in rigorous discussions to ensure the curriculum's integrity.
Private schools are also free to go beyond the standard curriculum set by DepEd, according to the Coordinating Council of Private Education Associations (COCOPEA).
"That is one way for our private schools to ensure na ang Philippine history is properly taught sa ating students."
This story originally appeared on Spot.ph.
*Minor edits have been made by the SmartParenting.com.ph editors.
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