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Senate ratifies bill seeking return of GMRC in schools


Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) and Values Education may again be taught as a regular subject in Philippine schools under the K-12 curriculum after the Senate ratified the bicameral committee report on the measure.

The approved bicameral report reconciled the differing provisions of Senate Bill 1224 and House Bill 5929.

“Mahalaga ang GMRC at Values Education sa paghubog natin ng mga susunod na henerasyon ng mga mamamayang Filipino, ngunit napabayaan natin nitong mga nakaraang taon ang pagtuturo nito," said Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, sponsor of the bill.

The shift to the K-12 curriculum in 2013 dissolved GMRC as a regular subject and integrated it to the Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao (ESP) which is only given 30 minutes per day at the primary level and two one-hour sessions per week at the secondary level.

Under the proposed measure, GMRC will be introduced to kindergartens in their daily learning activities. It will be institutionalized as a separate subject from Grades 1 to 6.

From Grades 7 to 10, values education will also be taught as a regular subject.

Once the students reach senior high school, values education will still be integrated in their other subjects.

Teachers who would handle it should have "certification, diploma, and training on values education and allied disciplines."

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, principal author of the bill, said it was high time for GMRC to make a comeback in the Philippine education system.

“Our kids are growing up in a period of great technological change. Technology can be a wonderful tool for learning, but it can also stunt their moral development. ’Di sila matututo maging magalang, responsable, at disiplinado online,” he said.

“Values education remains the domain of the family and the school. This is why we need a strengthened Values Education program, and why we need the return of GMRC in our schools," he added.

The bill shall be transmitted to Malacanang for the signature of President Rodrigo Duterte. —NB, GMA News

Tags: gmrc
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