Artists’ group hits removal of Filipino, Panitikan in college curriculum
MANILA, Philippines — The exclusion of Filipino and Panitikan as subjects in the college curriculum prevents a deeper understanding of the Filipino identity, an artists’ group said Wednesday.
“Nasa antas tersyarya ang bukas at malawak na larangan upang magpingkian ang mga ideya. Ang pag-aalis ng mga asignaturang Filipino at Panitikan rito ay pagkakait sa malalim na pag-unawa sa ating pagka-Filipino,” the Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP) said in a statement.
“Kahangalan kung ituturing ang ipinataw na desisyon Korte Suprema hinggil sa pagtatanggal ng mga asignaturang Filipino at Panitikan sa kolehiyo,” it added.
The Supreme Court (SC) recently reiterated its October 2018 decision validating the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) memorandum order on the removal of the subjects of Filipino, Panitikan and the Philippine Constitution from the college core subjects.
READ: SC upholds K-to-12 program with finality
READ: SC: Filipino, ‘Panitikan’ no longer core college subjects
Article continues after this advertisementThis was after the SC ruled that motions for reconsideration filed by the Alyansa ng Mga Tagapagtanggol ng Wikang Filipino were “unmeritorious” for “failing to offer any substantial argument.”
Article continues after this advertisementREAD: Group appeals SC ruling vs Filipino, ‘panitikan’
While it is under the colleges and universities’ discretion to remove Filipino and Panitikan, the artists’ group pointed out that the move does not guarantee that the subjects will be retained in the college curriculum.
“Bagama’t iminumungkahi ng desisyon na nasa kapasyahan na ng mga kolehiyo at unibersidad ang pagpapanatili ng mga asignaturang Filipino at Panitikan, hindi maikakaila, na sa kasalukuyang sistemang pang-edukasyon ng bansa na kolonyal at pyudal at sumususo lamang sa kanluraning balangkas, na wala itong pangil upang tupdin at garantiyahan ng mga paaralan na ilagay sa kani-kanilang mga kurikulum,” the artists’ group said.
Moreover, CAP said the removal of these subjects “kills” the ability of the people to understand and know its role in the nation.
“Kailangan nating matukoy na ang ganitong mga sistematikong hakbangin ng estado ay bahagi ng neoliberal na agenda ng globalisasyon,” the artists’ group said.
“Pinapatay nito ang kakayahan ng mamamayan na unawain ang ating kalagayan at malaman ang ating kapangyarihan bilang sambayanan, na mariing natatalakay sa mga asignaturang Filipino at Panitikan,” it added. (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)
