LANGUAGE POLICIES IN THE PHILIPPINES| Sir David TV

Summary

The Philippine language policies, as outlined in the 1987 Constitution, prioritize Filipino as the national language, with English as an auxiliary. Key policies include the establishment of a National Language Commission and the promotion of Filipino in government communications. The educational system implements a bilingual policy, aiming for national competence in Filipino and English. The K-12 program introduces Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB MLE) to enhance language proficiency, starting with regional languages in early grades and transitioning to Filipino and English in later years.

Takeaways

• 📜 The 1987 Philippine Constitution designates Filipino as the national language and acknowledges its evolution from other dialects and languages.
• 🏛️ Section 7 of the Constitution mandates Filipino and English as the official languages for communication and instruction.
• 🏫 Section 9 of the Constitution established the National Language Commission to develop, propagate, and preserve the Filipino language.
• 📝 Executive Order 335 by President Corazon Aquino in 1988 directed government entities to use Filipino in official communications and correspondences.
• 🗣️ Resolution 1-92 defined Filipino as the native language spoken in urban centers and used for inter-ethnic communication.
• 🔤 The Department of Education, Culture, and Sports (DECS) Order No. 81 in 1987 provided guidelines for the Filipino alphabet and spelling rules.
• 🎓 The bilingual language policy in the education system aims to achieve national competence in Filipino and English through their use as media of instruction.
• 🏛️ CHED's 1994 General Education Curriculum (GEC) required higher education institutions to offer Filipino language courses and align with the bilingual education policy.
• 🏫 The K-12 program, launched in 2011, introduced Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTBMLE) to build proficiency in Filipino and English starting from kindergarten.
• 🌐 The MTBMLE program expanded to include more regional languages, aiming to transition students to English and Filipino as primary languages of instruction by junior high school.

Q & A

What is the national language of the Philippines as defined by the 1987 Constitution?

The 1987 Constitution defines Filipino as the country's national language.

What is the role of the national language commission mandated by the 1987 Constitution?

The national language commission is tasked to undertake, coordinate, and promote researches for the development, propagation, and preservation of Filipino and other languages.

Which executive order by President Corazon Aquino mandated the use of Filipino in government communications?

Executive Order Number 335 by President Corazon Aquino in 1988 mandated the use of Filipino in government transactions, communications, and correspondence.

What does Resolution 1-92 by the Commission on the Filipino Language describe Filipino as?

Resolution 1-92 describes Filipino as the native language spoken and written in the national capital region and other urban centers in the Philippines, and used as the language of communication between ethnic groups.

What is the composition of the Filipino alphabet as per Department of Education, Culture, and Sports Order Number 81?

The Filipino alphabet is composed of 28 letters, which include the original 26 letters of the English alphabet, plus the letters 'ñ', 'á', and 'ng'.

What is the aim of the bilingual language policy in the Philippine education system?

The aim of the bilingual language policy is to attain Filipino and English competence at a national level through their use as media of instruction at all levels.

How does the K-12 program's Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) approach language instruction?

The K-12 program's MTB-MLE approach starts basic education with the first language of learners from kindergarten up to grade 3, and gradually introduces Filipino and English as media of instruction.

What was the controversy surrounding the Commission on Higher Education's (CHED) new General Education Curriculum (GEC) in 2013?

The controversy was that the new GEC set for 2018 contained no Filipino language courses, leading to accusations that CHED was failing to intellectualize Filipino and displacing thousands of Filipino professors and instructors.

How does the 1987 Constitution address the development of Filipino as a language?

The 1987 Constitution acknowledges that Filipino is evolving and shall be developed and enriched on the basis of other existing dialects and languages.

What is the role of regional dialects in the initial language for literacy according to the bilingual language policy?

Regional dialects are used as auxiliary media of instruction in the initial language for literacy when needed.