8. The IPEd Curriculum Framework of the DepEd
What is the IPEd Curriculum Framework issued by the DepEd as per DepEd Order No. 32, s. 2015? DepEd recognizes the right of the indigenous people to a culturally rooted basic education. The IPEd provides guidelines for schools and other education programs as they engage the indigenous communities in their studies.
Community elders and leaders who are supporters of community-based indigenous Peoples Education (IPEd) programs have gathered together and met in a series of consultations with each other to come up with the said framework. The IPEd program is expected to benefit 1.19 million IP students who are enrolled in public schools and in other civil society organization-run educational institutions. DepEd has initiated a training program specifically for school heads and teachers serving the indigenous communities.
The K-12 curriculum integrates the IPEd framework as a response to a culturally-appropriate curriculum that is anchored on learning and understanding more features of the indigenous communities; its ancestral domain and the community’s worldview. The various indigenous cultural institutions continue to expresses their support in respecting the indigenous cultural identity. They are committed to be the culture bearers and they are known to manage the teaching-learning process as their participation is appropriately encouraged.
DepEd recognizes the community’s Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices (IKSPS) and commits to maintaining the ancestral domain where the IKSP holders have lived in a long time and where their primary learning environment are located. DepEd will always seek their guidance in the design of the learning activities that involve these places to maintain the area’s sacredness.
Instructional materials as well as other learning resources shall be developed in ways that integrate the indigenized curriculum content and they will be useful in the teaching-learning processes. These materials will be mother tongue-based, abide by the cultural standards, and shall abide by the terms agreed upon by the DepEd and the indigenous community.
The indigenous community has a unique need which is different from the regular classroom in other communities. As such, classroom assessment shall be done in a way that it utilizes the tools that adheres to its standards, concepts, skills and competencies that have been covered. It is essential that assessment tools be designed to respond to the needs and concerns of the community concerned. Also, their participation in the construction of these assessments is necessary.
DepEd’s IPEd curriculum framework expresses the principles that are provided in DepEd’s National IPEd Policy Framework: participation, inclusion, and empowerment. The IPEd framework is consistent and supports the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997 which aims to establish and control the indigenous community’s educational systems and institutions.
DepEd and the indigenous communities will continue to cooperate with each other in the indigenization of the curriculum through various engagement processes, activities and programs that are meant to support and promote the indigenous culture of the country. Various mechanisms and activities will be organized by DepEd with the meaningful participation of the indigenous groups.
By: Catherine P. Jarabe | T-III | Antonio G. Liamas Elementary school
