Teachers and students from various universities marched towards Chino Roces bridge in Manila yesterday, August 25, to protest government education policies that will hamper the advancement of the national language.
The protest action was led by Tanggol Wika, an alliance of academics and student advocates, as an alternative event for the Buwan ng Wika.
De La Salle University Professor and Tanggol Wika spokesperson David Michael San Juan assailed Commission on Higher Education Memorandum Order (CMO) 20, series of 2013, and the K-12 program of the Aquino government.
“We call on the government to once again include teaching Filipino history in the high school curriculum and Filipino Literature, Philippine Government and Constitution in the college curriculum,” said Prof. San Juan.
CMO 20 drew flak from academic and progressive groups for eliminating Filipino subjects in the tertiary General Education Curriculum. Philippine History was also not included in the junior high school curriculum.
The Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) last April, suspending the implementation of CMO 20, after a petition was filed by Tanggol Wika. According to Prof. San Juan, a total of 7 petitions has been filed against CMO 20 and the K-12 program. He added that there is no final decision as of yet with regards the TRO.
“Sinasabi ng ating pamahalaan na dapat maging globally competitive tayo. Hindi na nating pag-aaralan ang sariling wika dahil hindi na ito kailangan kapag magtatrabaho sa ibang bayan. Ang tingin nila ang wikang Ingles ang wika ng kaunlaran,” lamented Andrea Yasoña, a 4th year Education student from Philippine Normal University.
“Ang gusto (ni Aquino) ay magtrabaho bilang call center agents ang mga Pilipino,” said Pilipinong Nagkakaisa para sa Soberanya (P1NAS) convenor Lisa Maza.
P1NAS is a broad citizen’s movement which aims to defend Philippine sovereignty.
Maza underscored the importance of the national language in ‘forging a national identity and consciousness.’
Added Burden
University of the Philippines professor Lani Abad Flores lambasted President Aquino for being the ‘number one violator of the Constitution.’
“Nakasaad sa Artikulo XIII ng ating Konstitusyon na dapat pangalagaan ng pamahalaan ang security of tenure ng mamamayan, subalit dahil sa K-12, tinatayang 85,000 na kawani ang mawawalan ng hanapbuhay ” Flores explained.
Professor Joy Castillo of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines assailed the ‘commercialization’ of education.
“Saan kukunin ng mga magulang ang pambayad sa high school?” she asked, explaining that it would be an additional burden for parents.
Due to a shortage of public schools offering Senior High School (SHS), a voucher system will be implemented by the Department of Education (DepEd). Supposedly, it will enable Grade 10 completers to enroll in private institutions.
But according to DepEd’s website, students and parents are expected to cover the expenses if the tuition fee exceeds the voucher subsidy.
Aquino’s Legacy
“President Aquino is praised for delivering his State of the Nation Address in Filipino. But these are mere token actions,” pointed out Bagong Alyansang Makabayan chairman Mong Palatino.
“Because of him, future generations are in danger of losing their very own language. That is his true legacy,” he said.
