Teachers' group concerned after 'mother tongue' bill lapses into law

MANILA — The bill which discontinues the use of the mother tongue as medium of instruction from kindergarten to Grade 3 has lapsed into law.

This, after it stayed for 30 days awaiting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's signature for it to be passed as a law.

Senate OKs bill discontinuing mother tongue as medium from kinder to Grade 3

The law, however, raised eyebrows from the perspective of educators, as it could be a dangerous transition for both the students and the teachers in regional areas.

"Itong 'Filipino language,' hindi lang naman ito tumu-turol doon sa Tagalog. Pag sinabi kasi nating Filipino language, as defined ng mga linguistics, kasama dyan ang mga regional languages," Rep. France Castro, Alliance of Concerned Teachers Partylist, said in TeleRadyo Serbisyo's Story Outlook.

"Masyadong delikado ito. Nagkaroroon ng confusion ang mga teachers kasi kung ang gagamitin na medium of instructions ay English and Filipino — nang hindi mo dine-define ano ba 'yung composition ng Filipino — problematic ang law," she continued.

The lawmaker said they are looking to appeal the law to the Supreme Court as it hinders  the proper expression of students and teaching personnel alike in the classroom setting.

"Pinag-aaralan natin na mag-appeal tayo about diyan sa batas na 'yan dahil talagang nagva-violate ito ng karapatan for expression ng ating mga kabataan at teachers sa loob ng eskwelahan," she said.

The Senate approved the bill last July 23, 2024, seeking to amend sections 4 and 5 of the Republic Act 10533, otherwise known as the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013.

Under the bill, the medium of instruction shall revert to Filipino and, until otherwise provided by law, English, pursuant to  Article XIV, Section 7 of the 1987 Constitution. The regional languages shall serve as auxiliary media of instruction.