DepEd Sorsogon ready to implement “Mother-tongue based instruction” this June 2012

By Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, Feb. 3 (PIA) …..Sorsogon City Schools Division Superintendent, Dr. Virgilio S. Real disclosed  yesterday that the Department of Education (DepEd) is now ready to implement the “Mother-tongue-based instruction” or that the language of instruction will use the local dialect in schools starting grade one this school year  June 2012.

Dr. Real said that the DepEd is now ready with books and other instructional materials that were translated here in Bikol using the local dialect of each town as here in the province, local dialects varies from town to town.

Real said that the use of the local dialect as the medium of instruction especially in grade one is one very effevtive way of having a common understanding on what is being taught as the child or pupil can interact with the teacher as compared before when English was used as the medium of instruction.

He also said that here in Sorsogon, two schools in Sorsogon East Central School have been pilot-tested and have shown a remarkable significant easy communication process where pupils were able to comprehend better and school achievement was remarkably high since the language used is the first language learned at home.

He said that teachers did not have difficulty in communication or language barrier and that no interpretation or explanation is done as to unlock difficulties in communication.

Real said that the “lengua –franka or mother tongue based instruction” facilitates the learning process of pupil as they can communicate effectively with teachers with out apprehension.

"Here full participation of pupils is expected since barriers for understanding are removed and teacher can explain better using the local language and examples can be given in more understandable language already within the vocabulary of the pupil," Real said. (IAG/PIA-SORSOGON)