Revised General Education Curriculum Framework and Rationale

Background and Rationale

In accordance with pertinent provisions of the Constitution that: the state "shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels ... " (Article Fourteen) Section one; "establish, maintain and support a complete, adequate and integrated system of education relevant to the needs of the people and society" (Article Fourteen Section two); "exercise reasonable supervision and regulation of all educational institutions" and as reiterated in Republic Act seven thousand seven hundred twenty-two otherwise known as the "Higher Education Act of nineteen ninety-four", the Commission on Higher Education "shall set minimum standards for programs and institutions of higher learning" (Section eight d);

In furtherance of the ongoing paradigm shift to learning competency-based standards in Philippine higher education that underlies the provisions of CHED Memorandum Order number two series twenty eleven;

In the pursuit of the ongoing educational reforms that include the enhanced basic education curriculum through K to twelve which in its consideration of the College Readiness Standards (CEB Resolution number two hundred ninety-eight twenty eleven) has integrated GE courses of higher education programs in the senior high school core courses thus, has created a window for the revision of the current GE curriculum (CHED Memorandum number fifty-nine series nineteen ninety-six). The new GE curriculum aims to expose undergraduate students to various domains of knowledge and ways of comprehending social and natural realities, developing in the process, intellectual competencies and civic capacities;

Pursuant to CEB Resolution number one hundred ninety-two twenty thirteen dated March eleventh, twenty thirteen, the Commission approved the New General Education Program and its appended Brief Explanations of the GE Core Courses, Technical Committees, Panels, HEI Concerns About K-twelve, HEI Concerns About the new GEC, as revised in response to the suggestions articulated by stakeholders in zonal public consultations held within the period from August second to September fourteenth, twenty twelve;

This CMO provides the framework and rationale of the revised GE as a paradigm shift and in the context of the K to twelve curriculum based on college readiness standards. It sets the goals, outcomes and competencies, revised core courses and electives. It also includes capacity building for start up and for continuing sustainability program. It is a set of minimum standards for the general education component of all degree programs that applies to private and public Higher Education Institutions in the country.

ARTICLE ONE CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

General Education is the portion of the curriculum common to all undergraduate students regardless of their major. It exposes them to various domains of knowledge and ways of comprehending social and natural realities, developing in the process:

Intellectual competencies such as critical, analytical and creative thinking, and multiple forms of expression; and

Civic capacities demanded of membership in the community, country, and the world.

For this reason, general education is distinct from specialized learning. The former introduces students to different ways of knowing; the latter focuses on a particular discipline. General education is oriented toward broad or wide-ranging understandings, while specialized learning is directed at more theoretical and technical knowledge. As such, general education undergirds the entire undergraduate education curriculum and cannot be expected, by itself, to deliver all the objectives of higher education. The prerequisite to the