MOTHER TONGUE-BASED MULTILINGUAL EDUCATION

The purpose of a multilingual education program is to develop appropriate cognitive and

reasoning skills, enabling children to operate equally in different languages – starting with the
first language of the child.
Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) is one of the distinctive
features of the K-12 program that was signed into law on May 15, 2013 by former President
Benigno Aquino III. The introduction of the MTB-MLE, specifically from Kindergarten to
Grade 3, is grounded on the belief that children learn best if the language used in instruction is
understandable and accessible to the young learners. Several studies have shown that the use of
Mother Tongue in early grade instruction has, in fact, yielded significant, positive results to
student learning across subject areas or discipline.
Reality dictates that learners learn best when they are able to understand and express in
the language they grew up speaking from childhood. Thus, they are able to build a strong
scaffold in terms of comprehension, construction, and communication. Moreover, research
stresses that children with a solid foundation in the language they grew up speaking on their
mother tongue develop stronger literacy abilities in the school language.
For additional information, use this link for Republic Act no. 10157 the Kindergarten Act
https://www.teacherph.com/kindergarten-education-act/ and Republic Act no. 10553 An Act
Enhancing the Philippine Basic Education: https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2013/09/04/irr-
republic-act-no-10533/#:~:text=(a)%20Act%20refers%20to%20Republic,Basic%20Education
%20Act%20of%202013.%E2%80%9D to better understand the legal basis.