Philippine Literacy and English

Education Undersecretary Yolanda Quijano says:

“The use of a secondary language in classroom instruction inhibits learning among young students, eventually leading to poor literacy skills when they become adults.”

This is the most stupid news item I recently read.

I don’t disregard the findings or argue with Ms. Quijano. Although I have some units in Education, they cannot guarantee that I am absolutely right in what I am about to say.

In Vigan, the Rosary College (now, St. Paul College) run by nuns of St. Paul de Chartes used English as medium of instruction from kinder, preparatory and up. In their campus, everyone was forced to speak in English otherwise (if my memory is accurate) every Ilocano word spoken is fined by a nickel or whatever was the amount. At that time, no one speaks Tagalog in town except visitors. Compared to these days, full-blooded Ilocanos prefer to speak in Tagalog. I cannot really explain why so.

Anyway, students from the Rosary who pursued college degrees in Manila or elsewhere are successful in their chosen fields not only in the country but overseas as well. If I can give some examples, here are some who were educated with English on their first day in school and up:

Former Interior Undersecretary Marius Corpuz, Atty. Jessie Averia, former Vigan Vice Mayor Franz Ranches, Dr. Charles Rabara, Vice Gov. Jerry Singson, Sr. Norma Que, SPC; Fr. Nemesio Que, SJ; Dr. Florecita Quitoriano, Dr. Marilyn Rotor, and Atty. Norma Singson to name a few.  They are all alumni/alumnae of the old and famed Rosary College of Vigan. (I apologize.  I don’t know the married names of the alumnae if there are.) Atty. Corpuz and Fr. Que were also educated with Spanish and Latin.

So, how convincing are the words of U-Sec. Quijano? If one example is not enough, if my reading is correct, the elementary department of St. Louis University in Baguio used English. I don’t have an official data but I believe that a good number of their pupils who possibly used Tagalog, Ilocano, Kankanaey, Panggalatok or Bontoc at home are successful.

Catholic schools in Metro Manila also used English in their elementary grades. A lot of their products must be big shots now.

In Hong Kong, as a British colony, some schools used English in the elementary grades instead of Cantonese. Despite that, they have 93% literacy. Some Latin American countries whose medium of instruction in the elementary grades is Spanish, their national and dominant language have 60%+ literacy.

How can the discrepancies be explained scientifically?

Back to Vigan, although there are many who are successful  instructed  in Ilocano  in the elementary grades, English instructed pupils show a great difference. I have no scientific findings on this --- my evidence is purely empirical.

Is the medium of instruction the problem or the quality and method of teachers in teaching? Give a closer look. -30-

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Recommended reading:  http://indexmundi.com/g/r.aspx?c=hk&v=39