Question: Why do you think that the medium of instructions (language) is the major issue in basic education as to:

1. rationale (justification)

The medium of instruction becomes a major issue in the rationale based on the following grounds: The issue on the medium of instruction in the Philippines should be discussed according to its vision as it implies on the curriculum. If the curriculum aims to teach nationalism as a part of its curriculum, there's definitely an argument as to whether or not English should become a medium of instruction. However, the curriculum also points out that education should also train students to be globally competent. in this matter, English is encouraged to be used as a medium of instruction. In the world of globalization and competitiveness, our country should also compete with others. As we all know, English has become the dominant language globally. Languages that can serve as lingua franca among neighboring countries, as well as movements that go for preservation of local languages are also on the rise. The ability to speak a foreign language is an asset that is required in any field, because of cross-international business relations, and any country who wants to build its economy is going to have to do business with another country whether they want to or not, importation and exportation is how the worlds countries build their economies. This lingua franca, as a mode of communication in which each country can understand each other. This will help the countries to trade easily, especially to the Philippines which a growing tiger of economy among other nations. Having English as a vernacular to trading is easy and will give rise to our economy. We need to learn the language that suits the national and international requirements. Aside from globalization, our government implemented The EO210 that made English the primary medium of instruction. The President said that she was worried about the decline of English, Math, and Science proficiency among Filipinos so she issued the EO to strengthen the use of English language. The EO also states that to promote education as a means to adhere and maintain an accelerating rate of economic development and social progress and it also makes note that there is a need to develop the aptitude, competence, and proficiency of our students in English to maintain and improve their competitive edge in emerging and fast-growing local and international industries. The EO210, being implemented because base on the research of the government that our students level of proficiency in English has

lowered in recent years. This was base on the observation that the job vacancies in call centers as a result applicants failing to pass the English examinations. English is the language of Information and Communication Technology or ICT. So the solution to the problem is to hastily propose the improvement of English as a medium of instruction. On a different note, a question can be imposed about the use of dialects in teaching basic education subjects: how do you expect to teach math and science using Filipino? The terminologies used in these subjects can hardly be understood when spoken or translated in Filipino or in other vernaculars. According to the research done by the National Statistics Office or NSO there are parts in the country where the population speaks better in English than Filipino. Cebu and some parts of Visayas would be an illustration. A lot of Cebuanos are much fluent if they talk in English than in Filipino. If English not used as a medium of instruction where else could we use this? It is for what purpose then? It is even more threatening to the poor if we remove English as a medium of instruction in our schools, it is a certainty that the lower-income students will never learn to speak English well. The children of the well-to-do will find alternative means of education and of being exposed to English in their daily lives. If this will happen it will worsen the inequity of our economic opportunities. Also the vast majority of the youth however do not have enough occasions in their normal lives to speak and listen to English. The classroom is the only place where they can be obliged to speak nothing but English. Its true that the schools where they will learn English and that will help build the nation. 2. in terms of application (probable solution)

In response to the need of having a standardized approach in teaching subjects under the basic education curriculum, a bilingual policy is in use whereby both English and Filipino are instructional mediums. At the elementary level, English language, science and health are taught in English; while Filipino, civics and culture, good manners and right conduct (GMRC/character education), home economics, livelihood education, music, art and physical education are taught in Filipino. At the secondary level, English language, science, mathematics, technology and home economics are taught in English; while social studies, values education, physical education, health and music are taught in Filipino. What we and our children know is the conversational language or the everyday variety used for daily interaction. Success in school depends on the academic and intellectualized language needed to discuss more

abstract concepts. According to studies, it takes one to three years to learn the conversational language, but four to seven years to master the academic language under well resourced conditions. It also takes time to develop higher order thinking skills and this depends largely on cognitively demanding curricula.