DepEd bats for quality Islamic curriculum in BDA schools

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) is recommending the use of the Tahderiyyah Curriculum in Islamic community schools operated by the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) to provide Muslim preschool children equal access to quality kindergarten education.

“We recommend the Tahderiyyah curriculum because it is aligned with the policy of the state to make education learner-oriented and responsive to the learning needs, culture, circumstances and diversity of the learners and the community,” Education Secretary Armin Luistro said.

According to Luistro, the Tahderiyyah curriculum was developed for five-year-old Muslim pupils in schools under the BDA.

The standards and competencies of the curriculum, he said, are aligned with the kindergarten curriculum implemented in all public schools nationwide.

It was developed through the collaborative effort of BDA, Community of Learners Foundation, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the DepEd, Luistro said.

Luistro said the Tahderiyyah curriculum also compliments the Madrasah Kindergarten curriculum which implements the Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education (ALIVE) program in government-assisted private madaris (Muslim schools).

He said the implementation of the Tahderiyyah curriculum is part of the government’s commitment to make quality education accessible to all learners in consonance with the Millennium Development Goals on achieving education for all.