Language Policies

and Programs
ELT 01/ELT 222

Dr. Pinky B. Carig

Associate Professor IV
Language in Education
Policy Evolution
Department Order
25. s. 1974
June 1974, the Bilingual Education in the Philippines (BEP) was
institutionalized through Dept. Order No. 25 which mandated the
use of English in the teaching of mathematics and science, and
Pilipino in the teaching of all other subjects both in elementary
and secondary schools (Pascasio, 1975).

➢ Dominance of English in the schools was seriously challenged

by another language.

➢ English was the sole medium of instruction in school from the

time it was introduced in 1901 until the promulgation of bilingual
education in 1974.
Bilingual education in the Philippines is defined operationally
as the separate use of Filipino and English as the media of
instruction in specific subject areas. As embodied in the DECS
Order No. 25, Pilipino (changed to Filipino in 1987) shall be
used as medium of instruction in social studies/social
sciences, music, arts, physical education, home economics,
practical arts and character education. English, on the other
hand is allocated to science, mathematics and technology
subjects.
➢ TWO KEY POINTS: Instrumental to the EMERGENCE of
BILINGUAL EDUCATION:

o 1. The question about the Sole dominance of English as a

colonial language in Philippine schools. A vernacular language, in
the form of a national language, would arguably have better
chances the English of eliminating inequalities in Philippine
education perpetuated by and through the sole use of English as
medium of instruction.
o 2. The question about Pilipino as the national language itself.

Because of ethnolinguistic rivalries, Pilipino ceased to be the

national language in the Philippine constitution but it resurfaced
as a medium of instruction alongside English. The debate shifted
to medium of instruction, but only after a politically ingenious
compromise was struck between pro-English and pro-Pilipino
groups.
1987 Constitution of the
Philippines
Article XIV
LANGUAGE

Section 6. The national language of the Philippines is Filipino.

As it evolves, it shall be further developed and enriched on the
basis of existing Philippine and other languages.

Subject to provisions of law and as the Congress may deem

appropriate, the Government shall take steps to initiate and
sustain the use of Filipino as a medium of official
communication and as language of instruction in the
educational system.
Section 7. For purposes of communication and instruction, the
official languages of the Philippines are Filipino and, until
otherwise provided by law, English.

The regional languages are the auxiliary official languages in the

regions and shall serve as auxiliary media of instruction therein.

Spanish and Arabic shall be promoted on a voluntary and optional

basis.
Section 8. This Constitution shall be promulgated in Filipino and
English and shall be translated into major regional languages,
Arabic, and Spanish.
 DO 52, S. 1987
THE 1987 POLICY ON
BILINGUAL EDUCATION
1. The Policy on Bilingual Education aims at the achievement of
competence in both Filipino and English at the national level,
through the teaching of both languages and their use as media
of instruction at all levels. The regional languages shall be used
as auxiliary languages in Grades I and II. The aspiration of the
Filipino to enable them to perform their functions and duties
as Filipino citizens and in English in order to meet the needs of
the country in the community of nations.
2. The goals of the Bilingual Education Policy shall be:
1. Enhanced learning through two languages to achieve
quality education as called for by the 1987 C
Constitution;
2. the propagation of Filipino as a language of literacy;
3. the development of Filipino as a linguistic symbol of
national unity and identity;
4. the cultivation and elaboration of Filipino as a language
of scholarly discourse that is to say, its continuing
intellectualization; and
5. the maintenance of English as an international language
for the Philippines and as a non-exclusive language of
science and technology.
3. Filipino and English shall be used as media of instruction, the
use allocated to specific subjects in the curriculum as indicated
in Department Order No. 25, s. 1974.

4. The regional languages shall be used as auxiliary media of

instruction and as initial language for literacy where needed.

5. Filipino and English shall be taught as language subjects in all

levels to achieve the goals of bilingual competence.
6. Since competence in the use of both Filipino and English is one of
the goals of the Bilingual Education Policy, continuing improvement in
the teaching of both languages, their use as media of instruction and
the specification shall be the responsibility of the whole educational
system.

7. Tertiary level institutions shall lead in the continuing

intellectualization of Filipino. The program of intellectualization,
however, shall also be pursued in both the elementary and secondary
levels.
8. The Department of Education, Culture and Sports shall
cooperate with the National Language Commission which,
according to the 1987 Constitution, shall be tasked with the
further development and enrichment of Filipino.

9. The Department of Education, Culture and Sports shall

provide the means by which the language policy can be
implemented with the cooperation of government and non-
government organizations.
10. The Department shall program funds for implementing the
Policy, in such areas as materials production, in-service
training, compensatory, and enrichment program for non-
Tagalogs, development of a suitable and standardized Filipino

For classroom use and the development of appropriate

evaluative instruments.

This Order supersedes previous Orders on the Bilingual

Education Policy that are inconsistent with it.
 DECS Order No. 11 s. 1987
Republic Act No. 8190: An Act Granting Priority to Residents of the
Barangay, Municipality or City where the School is Located, in the
Appointment or Assignment of Classroom Public School Teachers
The Order provides the guidelines to be followed in hiring
teachers where it clearly stated that the first priority shall be
residents of the barangay where the public elementary school is
located which allows the use of local language specifically
where local culture should be enhanced in cultural minorities.
Executive Order No. 335, s.
1988
ENJOINING ALL DEPARTMENTS/BUREAUS/OFFICES/AGENCIES/INSTRUMENTALITIES
OF THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE SUCH STEPS AS ARE NECESSARY FOR THE PURPOSE
OF USING FILIPINO LANGUAGE IN OFFICIAL TRANSACTIONS, COMMUNICATIONS
AND CORRESPONDENCE
1. Take steps to enhance the use of Filipino in all official
communications, transactions and correspondence in their
respective offices, whether national or local;

2. Assign one or more personnel, as may be necessary, in

every office to take charge of all communications and
correspondence written in Filipino;
3. Translate into Filipino names of offices, buildings, public
offices, and signboards of all offices, divisions or its
instrumentalities, and if so desired, imprint below in
smaller letters the English text;

4. Filipinize the “Oath of Office” for government officials

and personnel;

5. Make as part of the training programs for personnel

development in each office the proficiency in the use of
Filipino in official communications and correspondence.
To implement such objectives, the Institute of Philippine
Languages is hereby ordered to formulate and implement
programs and projects, which include:

1) information campaign on the importance and necessity of

Filipino as an effective instrument for national unity and
progress;
2) translation into Filipino of this Executive Order, as well as
government terms to be utilized as reference materials for
all offices;
3). training of all government officials and personnel in the
use of Filipino;

4). monitoring of the implementation of this Order and

submitting periodic progress report of implementation to the
Office of the President of the Philippines thru the
Department of Education, Culture and Sports; and

5). taking into account other strategies for the full

implementation of the objectives of this Order.
 The Language Policy of the
Commission on Higher
Education (Higher Education
Act of 1994)
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7722
AN ACT CREATING THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Creation of the Commission on Higher
Education.
In pursuance of the abovementioned policies, the Commission
on Higher Education is hereby created, hereinafter referred to
as the Commission.
The Commission shall be independent and separate from the
Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), and
attached to the Office of the President for administrative
purposes only. Its coverage shall be both public and private
institutions of higher education as well as degree-granting
programs in all post-secondary educational institutions, public
and private.
CHED Memorandum Order 59 s.
1996
New General Education Curriculum
New General Education Curriculum
Language and Literature 24 units

English 9 units
Filipino 9 units
Literature 6 units
Mathematics and Natural Sciences 15 units

Mathematics 6 units
Natural Science 6 units
Science Elective 3 units

Humanities and Social Sciences 18 units

Humanities 6 units
Arts
Philosophy
Social Sciences 12 units
Basic Economics with taxation and agrarian reform
General Psychology
Politics and Governance (with Philippine constitution)
Society and Culture with family planning
Mandatory subjects 6 units
Life and Works of Rizal
Philippine History 6 units
____________________
63 units
 General Education Curriculum:
Holistic Understandings,
Intellectual and Civic Competencies
CHED Memorandum Order 20, s. 2013
Revised Core Courses
Reduced to a minimum of 36 units
• 24 units of core courses
• 9 units of elective courses
• 3 units of Life and Works of Rizal (as mandated by law)

The general education courses may be taught in Filipino or

English
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 210
ESTABLISHING THE POLICY TO STRENGTHEN THE USE OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
AS A MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION IN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
Declaration of Policies.
The following policies are hereby established:

a. English shall be taught as a second language, starting with the First Grade.

b. As provided for in the 2002 Basic Education Curriculum, English shall be

used as the medium of instruction for English, Mathematics and Science
from at least the Third Grade level.

c
Declaration of Policies.

c. The English language shall be used as the primary medium of instruction in all public and
private institutions of learning in the secondary level, including those established as
laboratory and/or experimental schools, and non-formal and vocational or technical
educational institutions. As the primary medium of instruction, the percentage of time
allotment for learning areas conducted in the English language is expected to be not less
than seventy percent (70%) of the total time allotment for all learning areas in the
secondary level.

It is the objective of the foregoing policies to develop the aptitude, competence and
proficiency of all students in the use of the English language to make them better prepared
for the job opportunities emerging in the new, technology-driven sectors of the economy.
DepEd Order 189 s. 2003
Establishing the Policy to Strengthen the Use of the English Language as a Medium
of Instruction in the Educational System
….The English language shall be used as the primary medium of
instruction in all public and private institutions of learning in the
secondary level , including those established as laboratory and/or
experimental schools , and non-formal and vocational or technical
educational institutions. As the primary medium of instruction, the
percentage of time allotment for learning areas conducted in the
English language is expected to be not less than seventy percent
(70%) of the total time allotment for all areas in the secondary level.

It is the objective of the foregoing policies to develop the aptitude,

competence and proficiency of all students in the use of the English
language to make them better prepared for job opportunities
emerging in the new technology-driven sectors of the economy.