Imposing medium of instruction violates HEIs academic freedom

CEBU, Philippines - A member of the Provincial Commission on the Cebuano Language lamented that imposing a medium of instruction to be used in teaching would violate the academic freedom of higher education institutions.

The Commission on Higher Education conducted a public consultation yesterday among 170 academic stakeholders from the entire Visayas region to obtain their feedback and position of public and private HEIs on the proposed use of Filipino in teaching the general education courses and the addition of Filipino as a core subject.

In terms of the medium of instruction, it has been proposed that at least nine GE units or three courses should be taught in Filipino; or at least 12 units of GE core courses should be taught in Filipino in addition to the Rizal course; and or leaving the decision entirely to the HEI whether to teach in English or Filipino.

On the addition of the Filipino subject to the core courses, there are four possibilities, including adding three units of Filipino subject on language, culture, and Filipino identity as a GE core course; teaching Purposive Communication with three units in English and Filipino each; and adding or not adding nine units of Filipino subjects as GE core courses.

Lawyer Vincent Isles said in his position paper that it is not within the power of CHED to mandate a medium of instruction to be used in colleges and universities.

He said that this would be in violation to Section 5, Article 14 of the 1987 Constitution that states; “Academic freedom shall be enjoyed in all institutions of higher learning.”

He cited that the academic freedom includes the right of institution to determine for itself what to teach and how to teach it. He also believes that it is “too late in the day” to change again the GE curriculum even if CHED is empowered to add or subtract subjects as mandated by the law.

“To change the GEC now will be arbitrary, capricious and a grave abuse of discretion,” the position paper read.

Isles added that the CHED’s charter, the Republic Act no. 7722, that empowers CHED to impose minimum general education requirements did not mandate CHED to initiate and sustain the use of Filipino.

“For the sake of clear legal order and the proper respect for the procedure of our institutions, let’s move on and realize that the new GEC does not include Filipino in it,” he said.

Jesse Baring, member of Ang Bathalan-ong Halad sa Dagang and PCCL, supported Isles’ statements, saying that the Cebuano dialect should be promoted as the medium of instruction among Cebu colleges and universities.

“We must have the freedom to teach in the medium of instruction that we choose. We are Cebuanos, Our culture is Cebuano. Our language should also be Cebuano,” he stated.

He further recommended CHED to encourage HEIs in using their mother tongue as their medium of instruction.

“If ganahan ang Manila nga Tagalog sila didto, ayaw ibutang diri sa Cebu. Gusto ta nga mag-Cebuano ta. Gihimo na man hinuon nga alyas ang Tagalog sa Filipino,” he said.

He added that students would easily understand their lessons if their teachers would teach in Bisaya.

“Samot maglabad ang ilang ulo if Filipino ang i-impose pa gyud,” Baring said.

CHED Technical Panel for General Education member Dr. Maria Cristina Padolina said that they welcome all the suggestions of the participants of the public consultation.

She said that most of the Visayas HEI representatives opt to decide in their own on what medium of instruction to use.

“Yun ang gusto nating malaman kung ano nga ba ang mga sentimyento sa iba’t-ibang parte sa Pilipinas para makapagdesisyon ang komisyon,” she said.

She clarified that it is not mandatory to use Filipino as the medium of instruction. She said that the issue would be primarily on the intellectualization in the Filipino language and subject matter.

The CHED Memorandum  Order  20 Series of 2013, which is entitled as “General Education Curriculum: Holistic Understanding, Intellectual and Civic Competencies” currently states that GE courses may be taught in either English or Filipino.

Miraluna Caturan who works as a college dean at Maasin City, Southern Leyte was happy she attended the public consultation since it was clarified that HEIs have the option whether to use Filipino language in teaching general education courses.

She said for now, she plans to discuss with their respective faculty and stakeholders on the matter as advised by CHED.

After the regional consultations, the heads or presidents of the public and private HEIs are required to submit the results of their internal consultation on or before July 31 to the CHED office.

Caturan further commended the efforts of CHED in holding public consultation with industry stakeholders.

“Makikita mo ang democracy sa implementation ng policies. At least, they are willing to hear our side,” she said.

Padolina said that they hope to come up with a final decision within this quarter.

“Pagkatapos ng public consultation, pag-aaralan ng CHED ang lahat ng nakuha sa buong bansa at kung ano ang makabubuti sa lahat ng Pilipino,” she said.

CHED has conducted zonal consultations across the country, including in Luzon last July 4 and in Mindanao this Thursday.— (FREEMAN)