The Philippine Indigenous Peoples’ curriculum

The development of the Indigenous Peoples' curriculum (IP curriculum) commenced in 2004 in the Philippines (Abayao, 2014). The aim of the IP curriculum is to enable indigenous peoples in the Philippines to build the skills required to live more 'productive' lives; to enable greater self-determination; and to contribute to local and national interests (Philippine Government, 2006). The IP curriculum is an alternative to the mainstream curriculum, combining the basics of the mainstream curriculum while incorporating a focus on the preservation of Indigenous Peoples' cultural heritage and traditions through the use of 'indigenised' teaching and learning materials. This chapter discusses the implementation of the IP curriculum in the context of its delivery in remote areas by mobile teachers, and explores the pedagogical demands of culturally relevant teaching and learning programs. The discussion articulates the complex and problematic nature of mobile teachers' work as they navigate the cross currents of curriculum and the culture, and argues the case for systematic, teacher-led research on the IP curriculum and Indigenous Peoples' knowledge systems.