Remote town mandates English in schools

TUAO, Cagayan — This obscure town is leading the way.

Despite some stiff opposition from several sectors in the country to use English as the medium of instruction, this northeastern Cagayan town recently passed a resolution requiring all public and private schools here to use English.

The municipal council, according to Mayor Francisco Mamba Jr., approved the resolution last week enjoining all local school heads and teachers to encourage their students to speak English whenever they are in school.

The move, Mamba said, is also in line with President Arroyo’s recent call to use English as the medium of instruction.

This, he said would also enhance the proficiency of local residents, especially the students, to speak English.

Mamba said the idea to require the town’s schools to use English came from his brother, Rep. Manuel Mamba (third district, Cagayan), also a native of this Itawes-dominated town.

He said his solon-brother pushed for the approval of the resolution after two of their constituents suffered the embarrassment of not being able to communicate in good English in the Middle East.

As a result, he said the two young mothers were immediately sent back home by their rich Saudi Arabian employers who hired them as domestic helpers, eventually losing their opportunity to recoup the money they had spent in applying for their overseas jobs.