Senator Win Gatchalian is urging the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to consider reintegrating Filipino and Panitikan (Filipino literature) into the mandatory college core curriculum in light of protests coming from the academe and Filipino literary figures.
Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Sub-Committee on Education Reform, said that after the Supreme Court upheld the validity of CHED Memorandum No. 20 series of 2013, which removed Filipino and Panitikan as mandatory college subjects, it is now up to CHED to revise its policy.
“Sana ay magbago ang isip ng CHED. I am hoping that Chairman Popoy de Vera will see the wisdom in including Filipino and Panitikan as core general education (GE) courses,” the legislator said.
“After the Supreme Court upheld the validity of CHED Memorandum No. 20 series of 2013, which removed Filipino and Panitikan as mandatory college subjects, it is now up to CHED to revise its policy.”
The lawmaker noted that some members of the academe and Filipino literary figures, including National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera, had also assailed the CHED memorandum issued in 2013 during the term of former CHED chairperson Patricia Licuanan.
“As our national language, it is important for Filipino to be taught at all levels of education, including college. It is not enough na ituro lang ito hanggang senior high school,” the senator said.
“Sa pagtatanggal ng dating pamunuan ng CHED noon sa Filipino at Panitikan sa kolehiyo para bang sinabi na rin nila na hindi karapat-dapat na mas mataas o mas malalim na pag-aaral ang ating sariling wika at literatura,” he added.
Gatchalian urged De Vera to first hold consultations with the concerned groups and stakeholders, including the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, before it starts implementing the contentious memorandum. In its decision, the High Court also lifted the temporary restraining order (TRO) it issued in April 2015 against the so-called “anti-Filipino” provision of the CHED memorandum.
“CHED should first hold consultations with concerned groups and stakeholders, including the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, before implementing the memorandum.”
“Sana ay pakinggan muna ng CHED ang lahat ng panig, lalung-lalo na ang mga eksperto sa ating wika at panitikan,” he said.
