PROPOSED REMOVAL OF FILIPINO SUBJECTS Introduction
Filipino as medium of instruction at all levels is a mandatory provision of the Philippine Constitution. According to Prof. Patrocinio, Villafuerte, “Removing Filipino as a subject in the eneral !ducation Curriculum is not just a local issue" it is a moral issue that goes against the integrity of our race#. College and university professors in Filipino are up in arms against the memoran memorandum dum of the Commissi Commission on on $igher $igher !ducati !ducation%C on%C$!& $!& 'emoran 'emorandum dum (rder )C'(* +o. -, eries of -/0. 1he said memorandum aims to remove Filipino as a subject to be taught in college by -/2 as part of the ne3 eneral !ducation !ducation Curriculum )!C*. &e la alle professor in Filipino &avid 'ichael an 4uan said that 3hile the memorandum advocates the teaching of subjects in the Filipino language, the C$!& memorandum ensures that the study of Filipino as a language by itself 3ill cease. $e said that it is the most unpatriotic action. 1he very idea of removing Filipino as a subject in the higher levels of academic learni learning ng is unco unconsc nscion ionab able. le. $e also also e5pla e5plain ined ed that that the the memor memoran andum dum goes goes against the Article 67V ections 2 and 8 of the /9:8 Constitution 3hich state that “the national language of the Philippines is Filipino. As it evolves, it shall be further developed and enriched on the basis of e5isting Philippine and other lang langua uage ges. s. ubj ubjec ectt to prov provis isio ions ns of la3 la3 and and as the the Cong Congre ress ss may may deem deem appropriate, the overnment shall ta;e steps to initiate and sustain the use of Filipino as a medium of official communication and as language of instruction in the educational system )ection 2*. ection 8, on the other hand, states that for purpo purpose ses s of commu communic nicati ation on and and instr instruct uction ion,, the the offi offici cial al langu languag ages es of the the Philippines are Filipino and, until other3ise provided by la3, !nglish. 1eaching Filipino in college is part of the implementation of Resolution +o. 9:<-// of the Commission on $igher !ducation )C$!&* regarding the College Readiness Readiness tandards of the Philippines. Philippines. Covered by the same resolution resolution are the minimum s;ills that students need to learn or master so that they could be
prepared for college. 1he C$!& has named /2 s;ills in Filipino. 1hese 3ill all be rendered useless if Filipino as a subject is no longer sustained and e5panded. 7n many !uropean countries, the =nited tates and countries in outheast Asia, subjects that focus on the study of the national language are part of the eneral !ducation Curriculum )!C* or its e>uivalent. At the time 3hen the so< called A!A+ 7ntegration is ta;ing place, Filipinos should be strengthening their o3n language, culture and identity so they could contribute to the project of regional socio
education that the intellectualiation of language ta;es place" this is needed to ensure that the language is used in all levels and disciplines. According to the press statement released by C$!& through its chairperson, Patricia B. @icuanan, Filipino subjects 3ill not be removed but rather reduced on eneral !ducation Curriculum. 1he C$!& ho3ever, has approved public consultation on reducing eneral !ducation Curriculum, not just Filipino but other $umanities subjects, !nglish, @iterature and even 'athematics. he stated that reducing subjects in !C is not the same 3ith removal. 7f !C permits, the subjects under the ne3 curriculum can be taught in Filipino. A matter of inaccurate information to tal;ed about. 1he big serious concern on all of these, are the displacement of other faculties if !C had reduced the subjects into the ne3 curriculum. But remedies are being discussed such as the assignment of disciplinal courses to former ! faculty, the deployment of some higher education faculty to senior high school, the grant of research load to deserving faculty, and others. 1he C$!&, in fact, has a technical 3or;ing group studying the challenges posed by the transition to / and is 3or;ing out alternative solutions 3ith the help of &(@!, &ep!d and other concerned agencies. Assessment
By -/2, mar;s the first year of implementation of enior $igh chool. 1he &epartment of !ducation in 3or;ing 3ith Commission on $igher !ducation have formulated the subjects to be offered in the enior $igh chool. 'ost of the subjects in the academic trac; of the enior $igh chool 3ere ta;en from the eneral !ducation Curriculum of the tertiary level. 1hese events have sha;en the field of colleges and universities. &ebates and reactions overflo3 to the issuances made the Commission of $igher !ducation. 7n relation to the issuance made by the Commission on $igher !ducation, it is not directing the removal of Filipino subjects. 7t is also suggested that other
subjects be taught in Filipino. 1he move of the Commission on $igher !ducation is in consonance and in preparation of the senior high school. 7n preparation to that, colleges and universities are no3 re aligning their curriculum 3hich 3ill address the problem. 1he &e @a alle =niversity, through a forum held last 4uly D, -/E have been discussing the frame3or;, design, implementation and design, and syllabi formation. =nder the ne3 curriculum, &e @a alle =niversity seemed to be follo3ing the suggestion made by the Commission on $igher !ducation that any subject maybe taught in Filipino from their ne3 formed curriculum, that almost every core aspect e5amines an aspect of Filipino culture, identity or society, as seen from the learning outcomes and assessment. 1he =niversity of the Philippines also made their stand on the issue. According to Prof. Raniela Barboa, it is not merely an issue of Filipino subjects" it?s an issue of nationalism. 1he removal of Filipino subjects goes against the aim of ma;ing students rooted in the Filipino identity. 1he Commission on $igher !ducation, as they are 3or;ing 3ith $igher !ducation 7nstitution should come up 3ith a curriculum 3here Filipino subjects 3ill be sustained fostering culture, dignity and values.
