BAGUIO CITY - Parents of students in a private school here have expressed disappointment after finding erroneous information on some textbooks their children use in class.

Esther, not her real name, is worried about the book being used by her daughter who is in 7th grade.

On page 103 of the "MAPEH in Action" book, the Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao was erroneously called the "Banana Rice Tereces."

The Department of Education earlier confirmed seeing the same error in a textbook used in public schools.

"I was concerned na bakit may banana rice terraces sabi ng anak ko. Bakit ‘di man lang na-correct,” Esther said.

(I was concerned why my daughter said there’s a banana rice terraces. How come this was not corrected?)

The Banaue Rice Terraces was erroneously called the "Banana Rice Tereces" in a textbook.

Esther added that children are learning wrong information about culture and geography.

"Book ito ng mga bata and they're in their growing up years, so this will build more or less their idea or concept about things. Delikado kapag mali ang itinuro sa kanila," she added.

(This is used by the children and they’re in their growing up years, so this will build more or less their idea or concept about things. Feeding wrong information to children is dangerous.)

Last year, a book from the Department of Education (DepEd) also had erroneous information about Igorots, describing them as short, dark-skinned and curly-haired.

The DepEd regional office said it has resolved the problem.

The department released a memorandum order last Sept. 28 requiring all private schools in the region to evaluate the books before using them as a tool for learning to avoid misinformation.

This is to ensure that the information being provided to students are factual.

Institutions who will fail to adhere to the said order will not be issued a permit to operate or would not be recognized.

"’Di sila mabibigyan ng certification ‘pag ‘di maayos 'yung libro na ibinibigay sa mga bata. Isa na ‘yan sa mga requirement ng DepEd,” said DepEd information officer Georaloy Palao-ay.

(They will not be given certification if the books they provide to students are erroneous. That’s one of the requirements of DepEd.)

The Regional Development Council also suggested to the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) - Cordillera to send errata to some of the private schools.

"Sabi ng RDC susulatan ng NCIP ang mga publishing companies to call their attention and possible na makasuhan sila kapag ‘di nila naayos 'yung mali," Palao-ay added.

(The RDC said the NCIP to write to publishing companies to call their attention and, if possible, take appropriate action if they fail to make corrections.)

It said textbooks with wrong information should be submitted to them for investigation.