Why not current events in K-to-12 curriculum? asks lawmaker – INQUIRER. net

Public school teacher Julieta Golez rearranges the chairs in her classroom. STORY: Why not current events in K-to-12 curriculum? asks lawmaker

Public school teacher Julieta Golez rearranges the chairs in her classroom on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2022. (File photo by JANE BAUTISTA / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Are young Filipinos so glued to social media that they lack critical thinking?

Pangasinan Rep. Christopher de Venecia sought to cure the youth’s apathy to political discussions by filing House Bill No. 6418, or the Current Events Education Act, seeking the inclusion of current events in the K-12 curriculum, such as in social studies, civics or media studies and other subjects “as may be determined simply by the Department of Schooling (DepEd). ”

The measure, which was referred on Monday to the particular House committee on basic education plus culture, aims to “strengthen the civic consciousness of Filipino learners” and encourage them in order to be active in politics discourse.

De Venecia cited a 2018 Far Eastern University public policy center study that 86 percent associated with Gen Z students age 17 to 24 “never take a stand as far as their political views or opinions are concerned” and concluded that “Filipino youth are generally apathetic toward political discussions. ”

Further, he said a 2021 Social Weather Stations finding that 51 percent of Filipinos have difficulty in distinguishing accurate from fake news was an “alarming reality of the lack of an informed and politically engaged citizenry. ”

Understanding the world

The bill defines “current events” because “any factual political, economic or interpersonal occurrences of interest, relevance or even importance within the locality, country or the world happening in the present time. ”

Sobre Venecia stated it would strengthen students’ understanding of globe affairs and sociopolitical engagement and “train teachers within media literacy and innovations in their own pedagogy. ”

The expenses tasks DepEd to ensure that “current events materials will remain since factual as possible” plus to train teachers in handling present events conversations and provide them with relevant instructional components.

Schools must subscribe to such materials because newspapers, magazines, and books.

The costs stated: “Students in class activities discussing current occasions shall be afforded their constitutional freedom associated with expression. ”