Philippine Schools Introduce Valorant and Minecraft Lessons as Government Debates Video Game Restrictions
Schools in the Philippines have begun incorporating Valorant, Minecraft, and several other popular games into classroom activities as part of the country's updated education curriculum, using esports to teach teamwork, communication, digital wellness, and strategic thinking. The initiative comes at the same time that government officials are discussing possible restrictions on violent video games following a recent school shooting, creating a sharp contrast between educational use and proposed regulation.
Under the Grade 10 MATATAG Curriculum, schools may choose games such as Valorant, League of Legends, Dota 2, Rocket League, StarCraft II, Tekken, EA Sports FC, and Minecraft as teaching tools. Rather than focusing on competitive play, lessons are designed to help students develop teamwork, communication, leadership, time management, fair play, and digital citizenship while learning how esports events are organized.
The educational program arrives during an ongoing national debate over violent games. Following a tragic school shooting in Tacloban City, officials from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) urged lawmakers to study possible restrictions on violent video games, arguing that stronger safeguards should be considered for young people. However, no nationwide ban has been introduced, despite viral social media posts claiming otherwise. Independent fact-checkers have confirmed that lists of supposedly banned games circulating online are satirical or false.
The contrast highlights two different approaches to gaming in the Philippines. While educators increasingly recognize esports as a way to develop practical skills inside the classroom, policymakers continue to debate whether certain violent games should face tighter regulation. For now, students in participating schools can study titles like Valorant and Minecraft as educational tools, while any broader restrictions on video games remain under discussion rather than official government policy.
