Spanish to be taught in selected schools

CEBU – Starting this coming school year, the Department of Education will be teaching Spanish in selected public high schools, which aims to develop the students’ skills in listening, viewing, reading, writing and speaking the widely used second language.

But the new program, dubbed the Special Program in Foreign Language, will be initially offered in one school per region.

DepEd regional director Recaredo Borgonia said they have not yet identified the school in the region where the new subject will be taught.

According to DepEd, the program is intended for schools whose students have shown competence in the English language, and are capable to learn another foreign language.

In a press statement, DepEd Secretary Jesli Lapus said the language program will develop the students’ understanding and appreciation of other people’s culture as well prepare their communication skills in the diverse global workplace.

He said that only secondary public high school with the highest Mean Percentage Score in English in every region will be selected as a pilot schools and that availability of classrooms and computer laboratory will be among the criteria for the selection.

The teachers will also be made to undergo training on the new program as DepEd wants to make sure that there will be enough teachers to handle the subject. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/LPM (THE FREEMAN)