The Department of Education Negros Oriental Division launched recently the division-initiated “K to 12 Localized Instructional Materials” or “Big Books”, where stories and legends of all the barangays within the district are printed for school children to read and understand.

 

The launching was graced by Luz Jandayan, chief of the Curriculum Learning and Management Division of DepEd Region 7, and was attended by about 2,000 teachers from 700 schools in the Negros Oriental Division, with Gov. Roel Degamo, Vice Gov. Edward Mark Macias and some board members.

DepEd Negros Oriental Division schools superintendent, Salustiano Jimenez, said the idea came about while visiting schools in the division. He said when asked about their histories or legends, the students and even the teachers could not answer him.

The idea is for every district to come up with stories and legends of the barangays. It was found out that Negros Oriental is very rich in legends that need to be treasured and preserved.

Jimenez said he considers the “Big Books” project a way to indigenize the K to 12 basic curriculum, as provided for in Republic Act 10533, or an Act Enhancing the Philippine Basic Education System of 2013, where the production and development of locally-produced teaching and learning materials are encouraged, subject to the approval of the regional DepEd and in accordance with national policies and standards.

The “Big Books” materials will be placed in a library hub and can be borrowed by schools. Jimenez said the project aims to develop the reading habit and appreciation of the students, especially grades 1 to 3, with interesting stories and legends that are supported by pictures or drawings, and written in big letters using Pilipino or English.

Jandayan said the project is the first of its kind in Region 7, and is one way of addressing the problem of pupils who are non-readers, in at least 100 schools in the division as identified earlier in a survey conducted by the central office.

DepEd 7 will monitor the integration of the “Big Books” project to the different subject areas, Jandayan said.

Degamo lauded the DepEd for the project, adding it is best that Negrenses know their histories, before learning those of other places or countries.*JG