MAJOR LANGUAGES TO BE USED AS MEDIUMS OF INSTRUCTION
[PHOTO - Map of the dominant ethnolinguistic groups
of the Philippines. Official language(s) -Filipino,
English. Regional language(s) -Bicol, Cebuano,
Hiligaynon, Ilocano, Kapampangan, Kinaray-a, Maguindanao, Maranao, Pangasinan,
Tagalog, Tausug, Waray-Waray. Main foreign language(s)
- Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, Hindi, Korean, Malay. Sign language(s) -Filipino Sign Language / Philippine Sign
Language]
MANILA, MARCH 9, 2012 (PHILSTAR) By Rainier Allan Ronda - Twelve
major Philippine languages will be used as mediums of instruction in public
schools from kindergarten to Grade 3 starting next school year.
The move is part of efforts of the Department of Education (DepEd)
to boost its Mother Tongue-Based Multi-Lingual Education (MTB-MLE) program aimed
at raising student competency.
Education Secretary Armin Luistro said the DepEd is expected to finish the
learning modules in time for the June school opening.
"We are institutionalizing the teaching of MTB-MLE as one of the subjects
from Grade 1 to Grade 3 and as the medium of instruction from Kinder to Grade 3
so that we can develop well-rounded and life-long learners under the K to 12
basic education reform program," he said,
Local and international studies have shown that using the language at home
(mother tongue) inside the classroom during the learners' early years of
schooling produce better and faster learners who can easily learn a second
(Filipino) and even third language (English).
The 12 major Philippine languages are:
Tagalog,
Kapampangan,
Pangasinense,
Iloko,
Bikol,
Cebuano,
Hiligaynon,
Waray,
Tausug,
Maguindanaoan,
Maranao, and
Chabacano.
Under the program, Filipino will be introduced in the first semester of Grade
1 for oral fluency (speaking). For reading and writing purposes, it will be
taught beginning in the second semester of Grade 1.
The four other macro skills – listening, speaking, reading and writing in
Filipino – will continuously be developed from Grades 2 to 6.
Meanwhile, English as a subject will be introduced in the second semester of
Grade 1, while reading and writing in English will start in the first semester
of Grade 2.
Currently, 921 schools nationwide have been pioneering the MTB-MLE, including
for children of indigenous people.
The mother tongue pilot program is implemented with assistance from the Basic
Education Assistance for Mindanao, Third Elementary Education Program,
Translators Association of the Philippines, Save the Children Foundation, and
the Summer Institute of Linguistics.
The DepEd has also organized a team of MTB-MLE trainers for each region
composed of education supervisors.
The existing MTB-MLE regional training team organized for the pilot schools
shall be the same team that will be responsible for the division and
school-based training of teachers on MTB-MLE for the K to 12 program.
MTB-MLE trained writers will play a crucial role in developing indigenized
learning materials to provide students with a variety of learning resources.
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
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