Need to mandate use of English as medium of instruction cited

MANILA, Philippines - Three presidential candidates cited the need to mandate the use of English as a medium of instruction.

Speaking during the recent Presidential Policy Forum sponsored by the Carlos P. Romulo Foundation in Makati City, Nacionalista Party standard bearer Sen. Manuel Villar Jr., Bagumbayan bet Sen. Richard Gordon, and administration candidate former defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro agreed that there is an urgent need to revitalize the use of English as a medium of instruction in the country’s preschool and elementary levels.

Responding to a query over the need to use English to enhance the country’s competitiveness and to steer economic development, Villar said he thinks both the use of English and Filipino should be promoted among students.

Gordon also stressed the importance of learning and speaking English the right way.

“English is very important. It’s an advantage by Filipinos but at the same time it’s faster if a kid learns his vernacular in the first four years. I would favor Tagalog as a medium or even the vernacular such as Ilonggo in the first four years and then after that, start making them learn to speak and think in English,” Gordon said.

“I agree with both gentlemen. I think there is no debate that English is important. But I subscribe, in accordance with the policy of China, that we teach it at preschool age, not in elementary because it might be too late to catch up,” Teodoro added.

In yet another forum, six presidential bets for the May 2010 elections answered challenging questions from Cebuanos.

Nearly 2,000 people from the audience cheered for their bets during the forum dubbed “Choices and Voices for 2010, an encounter with the presidentiables,” in Cebu which was organized by the business chamber in the province Friday.

The most interesting question that drew cheers from the crowd was from an eight-year-old boy who asked what the next president would do to address poverty.

Former President Joseph Estrada shared that for two and a half years as president, he allocated the biggest budget for social services, education and health.

Teodoro said that if sufficient attention is given to peace and order, health care and education, the Philippines would have more investment opportunities resulting in a robust economy.