THE Alliance of Concerned Teachers and Teachers Dignity Coalition yesterday expressed dismay over the new policy discontinuing the use of mother tongue as a medium of instruction from Kindergarten to Grade 3, saying it may affect the delivery of quality basic education in the country.
ACT Chairperson Vladimir Quetua said Republic Act No. 12027, which amends Sections 4 and 5 of RA 10533 otherwise known as the “Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013” provides that the medium of instruction shall revert to Filipino and, until otherwise provided by law, English, may “further detract” from the government’s effort to resolve the decline in the quality of basic education in the country.
The law also provides that regional languages shall serve as auxiliary media of instruction.
It lapsed into law last Saturday without the signature of President Marcos Jr.
Quetua said the use of the mother tongue is very important in developing “foundational literacy skills” among Kindergarten and elementary students since they are in the beginning stage of education and are more comfortable using their mother tongue or native language. He said doing away with it as provided for under RA 12027 would affect their learning ability.
“The development of foundational literacy skills should be ensured in the primary grades. However, the new law discontinuing the use of the mother tongue as medium of instruction from Kindergarten to Grade 3 runs counter to this objective,” Quetua said.
“The teaching of Mother Tongue as a subject is foundational in developing literacy skills as learners can learn to read and write the easiest with the language that they use and most understand. Mother Tongue also enhances the awareness and appreciation of learners of their cultural identity, and preserves and nurtures our own culture,” he added.
Quetua also cited the lack of education or instructional materials from DepEd in the mother tongue and the national language as another barrier to addressing the quality of basic education.
“If we want to facilitate and expedite the learning and understanding of our learners, then the government should enhance the use of our mother tongue and our national language of Filipino in basic education,” he said.
The Teachers Dignity Coalition, through its national chairperson, Benjo Basas, echoed the same concern, saying that students should learn in the first few years of their schooling using their mother tongue.
“There is no denying that the implementation of the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education has problems but many of these problems can be resolved if only the government has allocated enough budget and if the DepEd and other agencies have fulfilled their obligations,” Basas said.
Basas said these problems cannot be addressed by doing away with the use of the mother tongue.
“Pero ang ginawang solusyon ay inalis ang programa sa halip na isaayos ang pagpapatupad nito (But doing away with the program is not the solution, instead of ironing out its implementation),” Basas added.
The new law will take effect on October 27, or 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general curriculum.
