Back to English in schools

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor ERIC T. LORETIZO Sports Editor (On Leave) RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The President has issued Executive Order 210, that establishes English once again as the medium of instruction in Philippine schools, particularly from the secondary level.

Hardly had the order been signed and disseminated when several groups already started to vehemently air protests against the move, citing the old reasons that had been given when the government had decided to impose the use of the so-called "national language" or Pilipino, on all learning institutions. That was some 20 years ago, and we are now seeing and feeling the effects of that shift.

What are the strongest arguments being given by those who want to continue with the use of Pilipino, which are other regions continue to recognize as only Tagalog which is the language of most, but not even all people in Luzon? The Visayas, Mindanao, Northern Luzon - these places have and use their own languages and dialects. Perhaps the inclusion of what used to be called the "National Language" subject, later renamed "Pilipino," had helped to familiarize those outside the Tagalog-speaking area with some Tagalog words, enough to make them understand the dialogs of radio and TV reports and soap operas, but only a few have managed to become conversant in what is to them just another foreign or alien tongue.

So far, the requirement of Pilipino as medium of instruction has not enabled the population of the provinces outside Metro Manila and the nearby Luzon areas to become articulate or fluent in speaking what they continue to call Tagalog. And it has become an admitted, as well as confirmed fact that the use of English by our students, even of our college graduates has deteriorated badly in recent years.

Since millions of our graduates have already gone and millions more may soon be seeking for work in countries where English is the most widely spoken and understood, there should be more advantages than disadvantages to being properly conversant in the language. We will not lose our ability to speak our very own language even if we learn several others.*