NCCA and UNESCO Challenge Filipino Teachers to Integrate Living Heritage into Classroom Lessons

• The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and UNESCO are launching the "Bringing Living Heritage into the Classroom (BLHC)" national competition for Grade 7–12 teachers in the Philippines.
• The initiative aims to integrate intangible cultural heritage (ICH) into standard curricula to help students meet educational competencies while connecting with local traditions.
• Teachers are encouraged to collaborate with community elders and heritage bearers to ensure respectful and accurate representation of cultural practices.
• Ten winners will receive USD 1,000 each for classroom implementation, expert mentorship, and inclusion in a UNESCO publication.

Competition Details

• Target Participants: Grade 7 to 12 teachers, individually or in teams of up to five.
• Submission Deadline: August 31, 2026.
• Application Requirements: A lesson plan aligned with DepEd or school standards, formal school endorsement, and evidence of collaboration with local community partners.
• Selection Criteria: Contribution to heritage safeguarding, pedagogical quality, creativity, and project feasibility/sustainability.

Timeline and Implementation

• Online Briefing: August 19, 2026 (7:30–8:30 p.m.).
• Winners Announcement: September 10, 2026.
• Pilot Implementation: September to December 2026 (Term 2 of School Year 2026–2027).
• Report Submission: January 2027.

Pedagogical Approach

• The program promotes multidisciplinary learning, such as using traditional textile dyeing to teach chemistry or pattern-making to illustrate geometric concepts.
• Teachers are tasked with documenting implementation results to help build a repository of educational resources for schools and cultural institutions.