DepEd CAR Urges Rectifying Modules Maligning Igorots

February 6, 2021 Provincial

The Department of Education (DepEd) Cordillera is urging education stakeholders to rectify some modules circulating on social media over the past few days maligning, discriminating and wrongly depicting Igorots.
Earlier, photos of some modules went viral on social media mentioning the Igorots (collective name of indigenous peoples of the Cordillera). One of the questions asked was “what will they do if they see Igorots being belittled because of what they look like.”
Most Cordillerans and IP advocates and friends believe such questions as insensitive and uncalled for and the writer or developer of such modules did not research well. DepEd Cordillera Regional Director Estela Carin~o stressed that when a wrong concept keeps repeated, this may be accepted as a truth, that is why there is a need to respond to it right away. She said those responsible for such errors should correct it immediately.
As an Igorot herself, Carin~o urgently called on the attention of the regions and schools division offices using such modules to make the necessary and urgent changes. She added that Cordillerans may even contribute to the wrong perception and incorrect depiction of Igorots if they keep mum.
She appealed to all education stakeholders to help in creating awareness on indigenous peoples and to be part of the system that correct these learning materials not by bashing or ignoring it. She urges everyone to call the attention of the basic education department through its proper channels like the DepEd Error Watch, the official Facebook Pages of DepEd, and even her Office directly.
“Not all can be seen or monitored by the Learning Resource personnel or the Curriculum and Learning Management Division (CLMD) especially for self-learning modules developed locally,” admitted Carin~o.
Artemio A. Dumlao/ABN