Religious Education IBED Teachers Meeting
On January 14, 2026, from 3:30–5:00 PM, a Religious Education (RE) IBED Teachers Meeting was held at the NDMC Junior High School Library in coordination with IBED Principal Ms. Chinitt P. Singco. The meeting was facilitated by Sr. Maria Althea B. Mana-ay, OND, and attended by RE teachers from the Elementary, Junior High School, and Senior High School departments.
The primary agenda included: (1) the presentation of the Harmonized GMRC/VE–Christian Living Virtue Series Books, and (2) updates regarding the Sacrament of Confirmation for Grade 12 students and above. The Virtue Series Books, developed through the initiative of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP–NCR), aim to integrate Moral and Values Education (GMRC/VE) with Christian Living in response to the MATATAG Curriculum reforms. Distributed through the Digital Evangelization Network, the series seeks to strengthen character formation in Catholic mission schools from Kindergarten to Grade 12.
Copies of the books were previously provided to RE teachers for review and evaluation. After careful assessment, teachers noted several concerns: the content was broad and text-heavy, less engaging for younger learners, and not fully aligned with the Notre Dame Educational Association (NDEA) Religion Scope and Sequence. They also raised the issue that adopting the series may affect student performance in NDEA Religion examinations. Additionally, synchronization challenges were identified due to the Department of Education’s GMRC/ESP curriculum being in Filipino, while the Virtue Series materials are in English. For Senior High School, hesitation was expressed in light of the Department of Education’s pilot implementation of the Strengthened SHS Curriculum for School Year 2025–2026.
The Virtue Series Books offer rich and comprehensive resources for character and faith formation. However, effective implementation depends on contextual alignment, teacher preparedness, and curriculum integration. The discussion highlighted the need for innovation in Religious Education while ensuring fidelity to institutional standards and national requirements.