“What do you think are the implications of the new core curriculum for the freshmen and succeeding batches of Loyola Schools (LS) students?”

“With the implementation of the K-12 program, I think the revision of the Ateneo core curriculum serves as a timely update that aligns itself with the establishment of a new education program in the country. For the next few years, starting with the current batch of freshmen, it is an opportunity for students and the Ateneo to experience and evaluate the curriculum in action as well as make necessary changes that can further strengthen it as a foundation for future alumni. The integration of subjects as well as the reduction of theology and philosophy units, however, demands a careful formulation of their framework. Depending on how these are implemented, succeeding batches may encounter classes that teach fundamental concepts better and more effectively. However, these constraints may also be a tradeoff for other important material taught in the previous curriculum.”

          Steph Agor

                     4 AB POS

“I believe that the new core curriculum of Ateneo, while there are few good changes, will impact the succeeding batches of LS students in such a way that there will be less multidisciplinary perspective and more focus on the actual course that they are taking. Based on my own experience, the core curriculum subjects that I took contributed to a more critical and holistic perspective of my other subjects, especially with that of my major subjects. I have been always fascinated by the fact that the subjects I take intersect with each other and that they were never separate from one another, even if they are from different disciplines. While the presence of new subjects might help in the overall formation of an Atenean, one should still acknowledge the effect of cutting down some of the core humanities subjects on the way Ateneans are formed and brought up in college. But then again, there is still uncertainty to the effectiveness of the new curriculum especially on the cutting off core subjects in the humanities such as Theology, Philosophy, and English. Ateneo is known in the long list of universities who emphasize the need of core subjects especially the humanities to ‘humanize’ the student and not only driven by one’s capacity for work and upbringing. Moreover, leaving the last few years devoted solely to major classes will somehow leave Ateneans thinking in some certain ‘monolithic’ and very specific way, which I believe is the advantage of the old curriculum’s structure. The clamor for a more straightforward bachelor’s degree is pressuring Ateneo to offer such curriculum, but to what extent? To what extent will the academic institution overhaul its “holistic and multidisciplinary” education? Indeed, the furthering marginalization of the humanities and other course subjects will soon leave the Jesuit education and its students with bare and general education driven mostly by earning and course-driven understanding.”

     Gerald John Guillermo

                     4 AB POS

“Reading the new core curriculum made me feel both excited and jealous for the new succeeding batches of LS students. By compressing some of the similar courses into one, the students can get more units related to their program. This would mean that Atenean students, especially those in technical courses, can be at par or possibly even better than some of the very technical focused colleges with no exact holistic formation in the country. With the removal of some of the unnecessary and non-relevant units, the different departments can now push out courses that will actually fit with the modern times so that Ateneans would not feel they only have outdated knowledge when they graduate. There are so much more opportunities for them to truly master in their majors while also have a fresh perspective through the new core and elective subjects that will be offered. Lastly, the old curriculum also felt a little stale in its student formation programs like NSTP and immersions but this new one comes in with a fresher and more intuitive approach.”

   Paul Lester Lojo

4 BS MIS

“I believe that, of course, the changing of curriculum is a good thing. It allows the lessons to be learned to be updated to a developing world of knowledge. They are better trained for what tomorrow would demand of them. As an upper batchman, however, I feel a bit envious to their revamped lessons. As an [information technology] student, I was taught coding language less used than the one being taught now. In the long run, it is good that Ateneo updates it’s curriculum so as to go along with time.”

    Rodge Chanco

3 BS MIS

“I think there are two main implications of the new core curriculum for the succeeding batches of LS students. First is a more course-centric program which would allow students of each course to have a better mastery of their own field. The second one though, is the downside of the first because given that, it would mean that there is a higher tendency that students who would then decided to shift after their first year would be delayed given that course-specific units are already offered in their freshman year.”

         Francis Bagabaldo

        3 BS PSY

“The new core curriculum for the succeeding batches of LS students contain lesser units. As what I have observed with the new curriculum, the goal of cutting down the units of core subjects is to make more room for major subjects. Through this change, the curriculum would emphasize the major subjects of the specific college degree. This would entail a more specialized curriculum rather than broad since there are more major subjects replacing the cut down core units. This is an added advantage for the students taking this curriculum since specialization would entail a positive look for career paths. Employers would be attracted to students who are much more knowledgeable about their specific program. This can be seen through the shift of the new curriculum being much more major-specialized.”

         Sparsha Sreedhar

3 BS MGT

“The new core curriculum would give the succeeding batches of LS students more time to focus on their fields of choice. This gives them more experience in their chosen fields and would allow them to learn about it more thoroughly. However, in my opinion, this also gives them less time to explore other courses since they will be taking major subjects already in their second year, as compared to the past curriculum in which they had 2 years of general education.”

           Denise Jaugan

                  1 AB IS

“I think before we proceed to the implications of the new core curriculum of LS students, it is vital for us to first try to understand the rationale behind this change.

The last revision in our core curriculum happened back in 1998, a lot of things have changed, the body of knowledge has greatly improved, and the K to 12 curriculum has now begun. Surely, universities and colleges need to adapt to the new generation.

The curriculum committee has been studying and proposing what we have now for the past 3 years. Simply put, the new core curriculum is a well-thought curriculum apt for our current context.

The new core curriculum is made for the next batch of LS students. It was made to fit their learning style, and their current academic knowledge. Therefore, the new core curriculum, if implemented properly, can serve as the peak of the academic lives of the soon to be Ateneans, through the Ateneo way.”

             Aldain John Canlas

         4 AB PSY

“I think the modifications done to the core subjects remove the very essence of being an Atenean. One of the things past generations can relate to is the common struggles and knowledge of the core subjects everyone had to take. Coming from the batch that supposedly took these subjects in senior high, I still find it crucial for the students to go through such subjects. Without a solid foundation of the basics, students can be susceptible to misconceptions that cannot be corrected in the future.”

             Ali Castro

                   2 AB EU