MANILA, Philippines — In a Pulse Asia survey commissioned by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, the local language in an area was found to be the least preferred medium of instruction for students in grade 1 to grade 3 at 38%.
The national language Filipino was found to be the most preferred at 88%, with English at 71%, according to the survey.
“The survey, which was conducted from September 17-21, 2022, asked 1,200 respondents their opinion on which language or languages should be used as the primary language of instruction for students in the Primary Level or Grades 1 to 3,” said Gatchalian in a statement on Saturday.
A total of 50% of respondents came from Visayas and 53% from Mindanao prefer their local language, while only 18% and 33% in Metro Manila and Luzon respectively prefer likewise.
“The survey also says less than half of respondents across classes ABC (41%), D (36%), and E (48%) prefer the local language as a medium of instruction for Grades 1 to 3 learners,” said Gatchalian’s statement.
Gatchalian, who serves as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, said that he will push a review of the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE), which is required by the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 or the K to 12 Law.
The senator has previously expressed such concerns in October 2022, after a study from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies showed that only 10% of schools in the country are ready to implement the MTB-MLE.
