To protect students from the effects of all forms of media, the Department of Education (DepEd) is set to introduce a media literacy education curriculum.

It likewise created the Media Literacy Task Force (MLTF) to develop a National Media Literacy Education (NMLE) curriculum that would help children understand and handle media.

Education Secretary Mona Valisno said young learners need to be protected from adverse media which they encounter everyday while in the process of acquiring information and entertainment.

“Our children need help in developing their skill to distinguish good news from bad news and good programs from bad ones,” Valisno explained.

Recent studies by Cartoon Network New Generations Philippines conducted in 2009; the 2008 AC Nielsen kids study; and the 2002 PCTVF Media violence Study reported the prevalence of TV viewing among children and youth. “It was also reflected in the 2009 study that 26 percent of Filipino children go online everyday, 50 percent of which use the internet for their homework,” Valisno reiterated.

Margarita Abalos, mother to incoming second year Joas Abalos and grade five student April Abalos, believes that this is one good way for her children to be educated about the media. “It is hard for me to teach them about the positive and negative effects of media because I, myself are not even aware of these,” she said in Filipino.

Abalos also added that educating children about the effects of media will be more effective if these are taught in school. “It would be easier for them to understand and grasp this knowledge because the information will be coming from the teachers,” she explained.

The NMLE, when completed, is set to be integrated in the Basic Education Curriculum under Social Studies for the elementary level and under English/Communication Arts/Values for the high school level hopefully this coming school year.

Micah Vianne Santarin, a first year student in Imus National High School in Imus, Cavite, said that the additional curriculum should be examined very well before it is implemented.

“We barely have enough time studying our lessons when we are in school. If there is additional topic to be discussed, we will have lesser time to learn about the major subject,” she explained in Filipino.

Santarin, who goes to a public high school, said that it is a good thing that the students will be taught about the adverse effects of media. “But, I think they [DepEd and government] should pay attention first to our basic needs such bigger classrooms and quality textbooks,” she ended.

Valisno also said that teachers, school administrators, and peer educators are set to undergo trainings soon to prepare for the integration. “Media learning resources will also be developed for the use in public schools,” she added.

Darlene Interno, a computer and English teacher at Congressional National High School in Dasmariñas, Cavite said that the media literacy curriculum is needed these days since young students have easy access to information. “With the Internet, the students are more exposed to so many kinds of information and sometimes, they even don’t know that these pieces information have negative effects on them,” she said.

Interno believes that the intention of DepEd for the media literacy curriculum is commendable. “However, they should set clear guidelines on how to implement it to ensure its success.” She also fears that this will be additional work for the high school teachers like her who are handling English/Communication or Arts/Values.

To address this concern, Secretary Valisno said that “as much as possible, we will try not to add additional work for the teachers.” She explained that before the NMLE is implemented, “we will get all the feedback especially from the teachers on how we can effectively carry out this project.”

Valisno also stressed that in order to support the NMLE, a National Consultative Conference and Workshop on Media Literacy Education is set this summer. “The conference aims to gather sector-based ideas and sentiments that will serve as database for the curriculum,” she said.

The conference will be attended by representatives from the academe; broadcast, print, and advertising industry; telecommunications companies; internet associations; NGOs; international/national organizations; allied associations; youth/student sectors; and other government agencies.

"The ideas which will be gathered here will be used for the formulation of policies on media literacy education and in the development of media literacy curriculum for the country,” Valisno ended.