Curriculum validation for the Early Childhood Education Program and mid-year programs assessment in Culion, Palawan was conducted by Cartwheel team members last September 21-25, 2014. Programs Consultant Veronica Tarabi, Programs Officer Celia Jurado, and Education Coordinator Bricks Sintaon travelled to Sitios Alulad, Cagait, and Chindonan to conduct meetings with Tagbanua learners, community members, and teachers as part of the process in verifying if the contents of the existing curriculum and the over-all programs for young and adult learners alike have indeed been helpful to all those involved.

As part of Cartwheel’s efforts to bring culturally-relevant education to its indigenous partner communities, a curriculum was developed specifically for the Tagbanua learners and implemented in the past two school years. Many elements of their life ways have been integrated into the lessons that are at the same time aligned with the basic competencies set by the Department of Education.

One of the most essential facilitating factors cited was the teachers’ prolonged immersion in the communities they serve. As they stay in Tagbanua homes four days a week, the relationship with their learners and their families has helped to deepen their understanding of their unique indigenous culture. This has been evident in the many ways they have creatively managed to integrate Tagbanua elements into their lessons – from the instructional materials, to the stories and anecdotes used.

Feedback from the learners themselves have been encouraging also. They appreciate what they are taught and enjoy the lessons presented to them especially if the medium of instruction used is in their dialect, Tinagbanua. The teachers are determined to gradually work on their own knowledge of this dialect, given two among the five of them are native speakers. The value in using the mother tongue has been most evident in the level of responsiveness shown from the young learners.

Continued efforts in research on the other aspects of Tagbanua culture and creatively linking them with lesson topics have been the strongest recommendations for the teachers. It is hoped that when the long-awaited multi-purpose evacuation halls have been completed, they will be able to store more instructional materials from around the community and again raise their level of teaching effectively.

With support from Harnessing Self-reliant Initiatives and Knowledge, Inc. (HASIK), the Early Childhood Education curriculum for Tagbanua young learners is set to be printed within the coming months.