THE FIRST Davao History Conference launched at the Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) on Nov 28, aiming to integrate local history in schools.
Davao Historical Society president Amalia Cabusao shared that the conference emerged from the city Ordinance No. 0330-20 Series of 2020 during the time of former mayor Sara Z. Duterte. The conference also aims to provide schools and especially the Department of Education (DepEd) with a definitive source of history in Davao.
After the conference, they will draft a curriculum to teach local history to students in grade schools.
“With this time, we want to let the children really appreciate the roots and what history means to them,” Cabusao said in an interview.
Ordinance No. 0330-20, proposed by Councilor Pilar C. Braga, requires all public and private schools at all levels in Davao City to include their curriculum in teaching the city’s history. The ordinance, however, was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In an interview with Jed Bete, Davao City National High School Araling Panlipunan department head, he believes the conference is significant to capacitate teachers for a uniform implementation of educating local history
Bete observed that there is no specific subject in the current curriculum that focuses on Davao history.
“We are hoping that by the outputs and the modules that we will be able to produce the teaching of local history will be emphasized among our learners, and teachers will also be capacitated as to the different teaching strategies in delivering the local history into their classrooms,” Bete said.
He acknowledged the challenges in connecting lessons with current issues and events in society, and the lack of world-class facilities and resources in delivering lessons on history for the younger generation.
Organized by the Institute of Davao Studies, Davao Historical Society, and DepEd XI Davao City Division, the 1st Davao History Conference participated by DepEd and teachers from academe with distinguished keynote speakers invited to discuss local history.
