Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to start preparing for the reintroduction of subjects on good manners and right conduct (GMRC) and values education in schools.

This after President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law Republic Act 11467 or the GMRC and Values Education Act, which mandated the integration of the subject in the K to 12 curriculum.

“It is no longer possible to implement the law this coming school year because the DepEd will still have to issue implementing rules and regulations, but we have to reintroduce those subjects as soon as possible,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez also asked the DepEd to recruit and train qualified teachers to teach the subject.

Rodriguez pointed out that the implementation of the law poses a new challenge to the DepEd considering that it is preparing for the new teaching modalities it will impose for the blended learning for the next school year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“But I am confident that the agency, under the able leadership of Secretary Leonor Briones, is up to those challenges,” he added.

Rodriguez hailed the signing of RA 11476, saying, “it is a timely piece of legislation” in this age of modern computer devices where young people tend to forget or ignore good conduct, manners and values.

“The law is in consonance with the goal of improving our primary education system comprehensively. It is high-time we emphasize that quality education does not only entail strength in math, science, and other core subjects; rather, it includes the moral, physical, and mental well-being of our youth,” he said. (Daily Tribune)