The Federation of Free Workers (FFW) expressed deep concern over the recent legislation removing the use of the mother tongue in classroom instruction.
“Our union members in FFW believe that this move is detached from the realities faced by the Filipino people, as it does not serve their best interests, will not enhance critical thinking, making our native languages dead and will negatively impact the quality of education,” FFW president Sonny Matula said.
AMENDING RA 10533
The newly enacted Republic Act No. 12027, which lapsed into law on Oct. 10, amends Sections 4 and 5 of Republic Act No. 10533, also known as the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013.
The amendment removes the requirement that teaching and assessment for Kindergarten to Grade 3 students must be conducted in the regional or native language, as well as the mandate that the curriculum conform to the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education framework.
Arlene Degayo-Golloso, FFW Chapter president at the grade school of the Ateneo de Davao University, expressed her reservation to the legislation, stating: “I personally do not support such legislation. As a teacher, I see the value behind the use of the mother tongue in education. It is supposed to make instruction easier for the students. However, I understand our case in the Philippines, since we have so many dialects, we need to adjust and not add to the students’ difficulty. The decision to use mother tongue or not should have been given to the school and its constituency, not mandated by legislative fiat.”
UNDERMINING LITERACY
For his part, Matula quoted national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, stating, “Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika ay masahol pa sa malansang isda” (He who does not love his own language is worse than rotting fish). This famous line was written by Dr. Jose Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines, in his poem Sa Aking Mga Kabata.
“Ang pagabandona sa sariling wika ay masahol pa sa malansang isda. The removal of the mother tongue in early education contradicts evidence showing that children learn best in the language they are most familiar with. This legislation undermines the progress made towards improving literacy and learning outcomes, especially for marginalized communities,” Atty Matula, who is also a senatorial aspirant, added.
If elected in the Senate, the FFW president said he will review the law and look for alternatives that prioritize the quality of education and the needs of the people.
