TEACHERS in Mandaue City elementary schools will undergo a week-long seminar-workshop on the mother tongue-based multi-lingual education strategy.
The education strategy which mandates the use of the vernacular in basic education is being integrated to the K + 12 basic education curriculum that will start this June.
The Mother Tongue Based – Multi-lingual Education (MTB-MLE) requires the use major languages or lingua franca such as Cebuano, Tagalog, Kapampangan, Pangasinense, Iloko, Bikol, Hiligaynon, Waray, Tausug, Maguindanaoan, Maranao, and Chavacano to be used as language of instruction especially in kindergarten and grades 1 to 3.
Benjamin Tiongzon, administrator of Deped Mandaue City Division said the MTB-MLE aims at language development to establish a strong education for success in school and for lifelong learning and cognitive development.
It also aims at academic development which prepares the learner to acquire mastery of competencies in each of the learning areas and at socio-cultural awareness which enhances the pride of the learner’s heritage, language, and culture.
“Some teachers are still confused, thus these trainings and seminars to equip teachers on the program before they will apply it in their classrooms.
Tiongzon said the seminar-workshop that will start today at EchoTech, Sudlon, Lahug, Cebu.
The MTB-MLE is required under DepEd Order No. 74 of 2009.
Meanwhile students in public schools in Mandaue City can enroll even without getting clearance from their teachers, said Tiongzon.
He said it is against the policy of DepEd to require students in public schools to get clearance before they can enroll.
Moreover schools in Mandaue City, he also said, will implement automatic enrollment, in which class advisers will automatically turn over students’ records to the class adviser of the next year level.
Tiongzon also reiterated that public schools cannot deny students enrollment just because their parents failed to pay their dues to the Parents and Teachers’ Association (PTA). /Fe Marie D. Dumaboc, Correspondent