MODULE 2:

MOST ESSENTIAL LEARNING COMPETENCIES

(MELCs)
MODULE OBJECTIVE
By the end of this Module, you will be able to:
1. explain the background and development of the MELCs
2. unpack the MELCs
3. combine related competencies into learning objectives

MODULE CONTENT
Lesson 1. Background, Rationale, and Development of MELCs
Lesson 2. Unpacking and Combining MELCs into Learning Objectives
LAC Session 2

ESTIMATED TIME REQUIRED

3 hours
 LESSON 1: BACKGROUND, RATIONALE, AND DEVELOPMENT OF MELCS
ACTIVITY 1.
Answer the following reflective questions in your Study Notebook:
1. The closure of schools around the world due to the global pandemic posed serious challenges on the
delivery of quality basic education. As a teacher, what do you think are the fundamental concerns in terms
of curriculum standards that need to be addressed in order to ensure learning continuity? Cite a specific
example. Do you think these concerns could be solved by teachers alone? Why or why not?

ANSWER: We are all striving and trying to cope up in this time of pandemic and there are variety of webinars
in which we attend to widen our horizons when it comes to handling lessons properly for our learners.
Maybe one concern is the guidelines regarding classroom assessment. As an educator, we can see that there
is an underlying problem about how we guided about classroom assessment. How can we solve this? As
teacher, we can make our own assessment. How can we ensure that students can learn? We can create
innovative interventions to make learning easier on the parts of students and that they may also feel like
they are also in classroom scenario. We can always do our part as educator because we are always the
implementers.

2. Even prior to the spread of COVID-19 that eventually led to the closure of schools nationwide, the
congested curriculum has been a perennial problem of teachers (Andaya, 2018). This is perceived to be one
of the hindering factors on the poor performance of Filipino learners. Do you agree with this observation?
Why or why not?

ANSWER: Yes, our curriculum is indeed congested and we are still basing our curriculum to other countries
like US education system. That is why MELC is released. There is something that we need to prioritize when
it comes to student’s needs. The release of the MELCs is not just a response to addressing the challenges of
the current pandemic but is also part of the Department’s long term response for the development of
education system most especially during emergencies. “ learning must continue” and it should never stop so
we also need to further review the MELC based on the needs of the life-long effect of it for our learners and
that is the goal of our education system.

ACTIVITY 2.
Familiarize yourself with the course reading on the Development and Design of the MELCs. After going through
the document, provide a brief and concise response to the following guide questions. Write your answers in your
Study Notebook.

1. What are the general and specific purposes of the development of MELCs?
ANSWER: The purpose of the development of MELC is a part of a long term response of DepEd develop
resilient education systems, most especially during emergencies.

2. How does curriculum review aid in the identification of essential learning competencies?
ANSWER: The review focused on articulation within and across learning areas and grade levels, which led to
the identification of gaps, issues and concerns. Moreover, areas for improvement that would enhance the
learning engagement. Experience, and outcomes were identified and consequent solutions were
recommended.
 3. What is the difference between essential learning competencies and desirable learning competencies?
ANSWER: Essential learning competencies were defines as what the students need, considered
indispensable in the teaching-learning process to build skills to equip learners for subsequent grade levels
and consequently for lifelong learning. On the other hand, desirable learning competencies were defined as
what may enhance education but may not be necessary in building foundational skills.

4. How were the most essential learning competencies identified? What were the decisions made in order to
trim down the number of the essential learning competencies further?

ANSWER: These characteristics are based on US-develop competency validation rubric, which is intended to
assure that learning competencies can reach the highest level of quality and comparability across schools.
Adaptations were made for relevance in the Philippine context.

5. What is the importance of the MELCs in ensuring the delivery of quality instruction?
ANSWER: The importance of MELC is to provide contextualized and paradigm shift of learning competencies
amidst in global health emergencies based on the emerging needs to continuously deliver basic quality
education which is accessible, relevant and inclusive in nature.

ACTIVITY 3.
Prepare a copy of your learning area’s original K-12 Curriculum Guide and corresponding list of MELCs.
Go to the sections of the curriculum guide and MELCs that are relevant to your instructional needs. Copy and
accomplish the following table in your Study Notebook and compare the two documents to determine which
learning competencies were retained, dropped, or merged.

K TO 12 LEARNING
MELCS
COMPETENCIES
Differentiate potential and kinetic energy Identify and explain the factors that affect
MERGED/CLUSTERE and relate speed and position of object to potential and kinetic energy
D the amount of energy possessed by a body

Differentiate potential and Kinetic Energy Identify and explain the factors that affect
RETAINED
potential and kinetic energy
Relate speed and position of object to the
DROPPED amount of energy possessed by a body N/A

ACTIVITY 4.
In your LAC Session, discuss and share your answers to Activities 1-3 in this lesson. Discuss any questions about the
MELCs that need clarification as well. Share your thoughts and let your co-teachers articulate their insights
regarding your questions. Jot down all the insights shared in the discussion, including your own, in your Study
Notebook.
 LESSON 2: UNPACKING AND COMBINING MELCS INTO LEARNING OBJECTIVES
ACTIVITY 1.
Familiarize yourself with the course reading on Unpacking and Combining the MELCs. After reading the
document, provide a brief and concise response to the following guide questions in your Study Notebook:
1. What is the importance of unpacking and combining the MELCs?
ANSWER: Unpacking of the MELCs will allow you to systematize learning activities and effectively address the
varying needs of learners and the challenges of instructional deliveries in a way that students can
understand while combining of MELCs allows you to effectively design instructional resources without
turning away from the standards prescribed by the curriculum from the LCs which has a common goal.

2. What considerations must be taken in unpacking and combining the MELCs? Explain each.
ANSWER: Unpacking the MELCs you need to consider the following:
a. Alignment of the content and performance standards which means MELCs should always be based on
the standard-based design of the K to 12 program
b. Prerequisite knowledge and skills which means that we should consider the higher order thinking skills.
c. Logical sequence of learning objectives which means following the blooms taxonomy in learning we can
create a logical pattern from the lowest to highest order of learning. In combining MELCs you have to
consider first the Commonality of content, topic or theme you should consider combining the learning
competencies if LCs have the relatedness in topic, content or theme and second the Alignment with the
content and performance standards just like in unpacking of MELCs the common goal of combining the
LCs is to aid in the achievement of content and performance standard of our curriculum.

3. Do all the MELCs need to be unpacked or combined? Why or why not?

ANSWER: No, I think it depends on the need to unpack or combine Learning competencies based on the
guidelines we have. Our common goal here is to deliver quality instruction amidst the limited learning
modalities and shortening of the school year but we should not depart on quality education we are aiming
for.