Measure seeks to revive English as medium of instruction

MANILA, Philippines - A lawmaker from Cebu filed a bill on Monday seeking to reinstate English as the medium of instruction in all school levels.

House Assistant Majority Leader Gerald Anthony Gullas, Jr. said once House Bill 1339 becomes a law, it will boost the English competency of the country's future labor force participants and build the capability of high school and college graduates to gain and maintain employment.

“English is the world’s working language. It is also the language of technology. Young Filipinos with inadequate English skills may risk getting marginalized in the lucrative global labor markets of the future,” Gullas said.

The measure proposes the adoption of a new bilingual program in schools where English, Filipino or the native language will be used in all subjects from kindergarten to grade 3. It also includes the use of English as a medium of instruction in all academic subjects from fourth grade to senior high school.

The bill noted that English and Filipino shall be taught as separate subjects in all levels of elementary and high school, and the current language policy prescribed by the Commission on Higher Education will be maintained in college. English will also be promoted as the language of interaction in schools.

The measure also requires the use of English in government examinations and entrace tests.

Gullas added that students can also learn mathematics and science easier with the policy.

“Co-relations show that English proficiency translates positively to higher math and science abilities. This is partly because most if not all of our math and science manuals are in English to begin with,” he said.