(MANILA BULLETIN) Senator Jinggoy Estrada is now pushing for a bill seeking the teaching of the 1987 Constitution in the secondary education curriculum of all public and private educational institutions in the country.
Estrada said doing so would help raise the level of awareness among Filipinos on their rights and duties as a Philippine citizen and to promote a better appreciation of the country’s history.
“A nationalist mindset must be instilled in Filipino learners who will contribute to a strong Philippine economy, grounded in their commitment to the nation,” Estrada said, in filing Senate Bill No. 1443 or the proposed Mandatory Constitutional Education Act.
Estrada, chairperson of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, further said that under the bill, the course shall be developed in accordance with the standards and principlees in developig the enhanced basic education curriculum stated in Republic Act No. 10533 or the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013.
The senator also said the bill seeks the development of a Constitutional Education Course for secondary school students with the hope of developing their appreciation and exercise of democratic values, foster their understanding and practice of active citizenship and people’s participation in government processes.
It also seeks to equip students with the knowledge of the Constitution that they can use in their analysis and involvement in public issues.
“The development of technical-based skills in learners with the prioritization on the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) must be strengthened alongside the fundamentals of nationalism and patriotism which will be engrained in the inclusion of constitution in the curriculum for secondary levels,” the lawmaker stressed.
Also under the proposed law, the Department of Education (DepEd), in collaboration with concerned government agencies and experts on the Constitution from the academe, will be tasked to develop the course and conduct teachers’ training in teaching the 1987 Constitution. -Hannah Torregoza/ Manila Bulletin