Scrapping Filipino like PH losing its ‘soul’ – Comelec exec

Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez. INQUIRER file photo

Removing Filipino as a core subject in college is a “mistake,” an official from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Thursday.

In a Twitter post, Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said the Filipino nation would “lose its soul” with the exclusion of Filipino in higher education.

“The elimination of Filipino as a core curriculum subject is a mistake,” Jimenez wrote.

“Some will argue that there is no economic benefit to teaching it in college, but what does it profit a nation to gain the whole world but lose its soul?” he added.

The elimination of Filipino as a core curriculum subject is a mistake. Some will argue that there is no economic benefit to teaching it in college, but what does it profit a nation to gain the whole world but lose its soul?

— James Jimenez (@jabjimenez) November 15, 2018

Jimenez was reacting to the Supreme Court decision to exclude Filipino and Panitikan (Philippine Literature) from the core subjects in college.

READ: CHEd to study SC decision to exclude Filipino, Panitikan from college curriculum

The High Court declared in a ruling dated Oct. 9 that Commission on Higher Education’s (CHEd) Memorandum Order No. 20 Series of 2013, which no longer considered Filipino and Panitikan as core subjects, was valid.

The CHEd memorandum reduced the general education curriculum to a minimum of 36 units.

Meanwhile, CHEd said it would study the issues raised by education stakeholders in excluding Filipino and Panitikan as core subjects in college. /cbb