ISABELA CITY (PIA) – The Department of Education (DepEd)-9 gears up for a significant educational shift as it prepares to implement changes in the medium of instruction for kindergarten and grades 1 to 3 in line with the recently passed Republic Act No. 12027, which discontinues the use of the mother tongue as the primary medium of instruction.
During the Philippine Information Agency Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas, Dr. Gregorio Cyrus R. Elejorde, assistant regional director of DepEd-9, elaborated on the upcoming changes. He also emphasized that the use of local languages for clarification in the classroom will still be permitted to enhance understanding and engagement among learners.
“Instead of using vernacular, we will shift to either Filipino or English. But that’s not actually preventing us from using our “lengua franca” to emphasize a point every time the instruction is being made in the classroom. It is found in the law,” he said.
Furthermore, Dr. Elejorde highlighted the critical nature of preparing teaching materials suitable for this new instructional approach.
“In DepEd Region 9, we are procuring materials na ginagamit sa kinder, grades 1, 2, 3. We are now trying to shift from using vernaculars. Mahalaga kasi ‘yong mga materials natin be made available to the teachers because if the materials are not available, ang mangyayari dito, teachers will continue translating the materials into language that is required by law,” he explained.
The recent legislative changes enacted through Republic Act No. 12027, aim to strengthen the curriculum and facilitate a smoother transition to a more uniform language policy in early education. The Act, passed by the Senate as Senate Bill No. 2457 on July 23, 2024 and adopted by the House of Representatives as an amendment to House Bill No. 6717 on August 06, 2024, mandates that Filipino and English become the primary mediums of instruction while allowing regional languages to serve as auxiliary support.
Dr. Elejorde assured that DepEd-9 is committed to providing adequate resources and training for teachers to ensure a successful implementation of this policy. He also highlighted that as the department prepares for these shifts, the focus remains on enhancing the quality of education and ensuring that learners have access to learning materials that are effective and aligned with legal requirements. (EDT/NDR/PIA Basilan)
