DepEd to remove Mother Tongue as subject but will keep it as medium of instruction

DepEd to remove Mother Tongue as subject but will keep it as medium of instruction

The Department of Education is set to remove Mother Tongue as a subject for Grades 1 to 3 to relieve the existing curriculum, Education Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III said.

“Meron po tayong subject from Grade 1 to 3 na Mother Tongue even though we already have English and Filipino subjects. We all agreed in the Curriculum and Instruction strand to do away with the 50 minutes of Mother Tongue as a subject,” Densing said.

“We will decongest the 50 minutes of learning Mother Tongue as a subject. There is no need to put Mother Tongue as a subject for children because this is already their everyday language in school, in the community and within the family. This time for Mother Tongue subject will be reallocated to our national reading program and national math program,” he added.

Densing said the decision came up after months of consultation with various sectors and stakeholders.

“Ipapasok itong pagtanggal sa mother tongue as subject sa revised K to 10 curriculum. Nasa gitna kami ng pagfa-finalize ng K to 10 curriculum, and we are informing you,” he said.

Densing said the curriculum will be anchored on the following subjects: English, Filipino, Math, Araling Panlipunan, Good Manners and Right Conduct, Physical Education, Music, and Arts.

“These subjects will be the foundation of the curriculum]” he said.

Densing, yet, stressed that the mother tongue still be used as a medium of instruction as mandated under the K to 12 law. 

“Based on what is mandated under K to 12 law, we will continue to use mother tongue as medium of instruction. Puwedeng ang pagtuturo ng Math ay sa Hiligaynon o sa Tagalog para mas maintindihan. Hindi lang siya isasabay as a subject,” he said.