DepEd to teach ‘rule of law’ in schools

Soon, the “rule of law" will be integrated as a subject in the country's basic elementary and high school education curriculum. The Department of Education (DepEd) has already lesson guides (teaching exemplars) integrating concepts of the rule of law into the basic education curriculum under its project PERLAS or Public Education on the Rule of Law Advancement and Support. “PERLAS, now on its second phase, aims to educate and inform the public, especially the students in public elementary and high schools, on the functioning of a society anchored on the justice system," the DepEd said in a news release posted on the government portal. DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro said PERLAS, once finalized, will be fully integrated in the elementary and secondary curricula with the aim of going “beyond the lessons in mathematics, science, English, and other subjects" and to “mold the students into becoming responsible and law-abiding citizens." Initial teacher training on how to fully use the exemplars was also conducted, with the participation of 112 teachers from 82 schools all over the country, 46 of whom teach in high schools and 66 in elementary schools. The exemplars were tested in 100 public schools in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Feedback based on the testing results was used in the revision and improvement of the exemplars. Lawyers from the Supreme Court (SC) and Libertás ensured the accuracy of the exemplars’ legal content, while education officials reviewed the lesson plans in terms of their appropriateness and relevance to the basic education curriculum. Libertás executive director Atty. Roberto Cadiz stressed the “urgent need for today’s youth to learn the Rule of Law." “Dapat maaga pa lang, maituro na sa mga kabataan ang pagrespeto sa batas. Nagiging kapansin-pansin sa ating lipunan na punong-puno tayo ng mga maling interpretasyon sa batas o kaya naman, maraming tao ang hindi gumagalang at nagrerespeto sa batas," said Cadiz. (The youth must be taught early on to respect the law. Quite conspicuously our society has been plagued with much misinterpretation of and disrespect for the law.) He said that with this integration, “basic education can help the students develop the core values needed to establish a just society." First phase PERLAS SC Chief Judicial Reform Program Officer Dennis Russell Baldago said PERLAS is the judiciary’s own little contribution to education and to the country. “The Supreme Court wanted to create something that can help Filipinos realize their power—that by mere observance of our laws, they have the power to transform the society. PERLAS is a long-term investment for the children," said Baldago. PERLAS-Phase 1 had created 100 model lesson plans, 60 for elementary and 40 for high school. The lesson plans, which touch on a variety of topics centering on the basic concepts of the rule of law, were designed by curriculum writers from the DepEd and the University of the Philippines. “Concepts such as gender equality, environmental sustainability, and citizens’ and indigenous peoples’ rights are also integrated. The lesson plans also emphasize the importance of having a strong judicial system and the roles that all citizens should play to help make that system work," the DepEd said. At the high school level, the PERLAS exemplars teach the students the concept of citizens’ participation in governance processes, and the accountability of government institutions. Also, a “Manual for High School Students," which discusses subjects ranging from the Philippine legal system to the application of legal concepts, was written by lawyer Racquel Ruiz-Dimalanta of Libertás for reference of teachers and students. PERLAS is a joint project of the DepEd, Supreme Court, Lawyers’ League for Liberty (Libertás), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and funding institutions such as USAID, World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank. — MRT, GMA News