President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law institutionalizing Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) and Values Education as core subjects in the K to 12 curriculum both in public and private schools.

Under Republic Act (RA) 11476 inked by Duterte on June 25, GMRC and Values Education replace the existing Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao (ESP) subject.

GMRC will be taught from Grades 1 to 6 as a separate subject and will also be integrated into the daily learning activities of Kindergarten students.

“The Department of Education (DepEd) shall introduce GMRC through clear, distinct, specific, and concrete character building activities such as role playing in the classroom, community immersion activities, teacher-parent collaborative learning activities, school-initiated values formation activities, simulated activities, and other forms of experiential learning,” the law read.

Values Education, on the other hand, will be taught as separate subject from Grades 7 to 10 and will also be integrated into current subjects in Grades 11 to 12 under the K to 12 basic education curriculum.

According to RA 11476, Values Education will encompass “universal human, ethical, and moral values, among others.”

“It (Values Education) shall inculcate among our students the basic tenets of the observance of respect for oneself, others, and our elders, intercultural diversity, gender equity, ecology and integrity of creation, peace and justice, obedience to the law, nationalism and global citizenship, as well as the values of patience, perseverance, industry, honesty and integrity, and good faith in dealing with other human beings along with all other universal values,” it said.

The new law mandates DepEd to carry out appropriate training for teachers and educators on GMRC and Values Education, as well as to provide them with adequate and relevant instructional materials to develop their capacity to teach the subject.

To ensure the effective institutionalization of GMRC and Values Education in the K to 12 curriculum, a whole school approach will be adopted to facilitate the collaborative action in and by school community and other stakeholders to foster parental involvement and develop home and school partnerships for an inclusive values education framework.

DepEd, as the lead agency tasked to implement RA 11476, is also directed to conduct an annual review to ensure the proper implementation of the law.

The report should be submitted to the committees on basic education of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The initial funding for the implementation of the new law will be taken from DepEd’s current appropriation, the law states.

The amount necessary for the continuous implementation of the law will be includes in the annual General Appropriations Act.

RA 11476 also orders Deped to issue the necessary rules and regulations and consult relevant stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of the law.

“The State shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs,” the law read. (PNA)