KWF: English still top medium of instruction, research in PHL universities

A survey conducted by the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) revealed that English language is the top medium of instruction and research in universities and colleges all over the Philippines.

The results of the "Sarbey sa Programa ng Filipino sa mga Kolehiyo at Unibersidad" were presented to the media on Tuesday by KWF's senior language researcher Michelle F. Tolentino.

The survey was conducted in the third quarter of 2015 (July to September), with questionnaires distributed to 144 institutions. Of the 73 respondents, 44 were public universities or colleges while 29 were private. Forty-eight of the respondents were from Luzon, 14 from Visayas, and 11 from Mindanao.

The survey had two sections.

I. Patakarang Pangwika ng inyong Kolehiyo/Unibersidad

Question: "Ano ang kasalukuyang patakarang pangwika ng inyong kolehiyo/unibersidad?"

Responses from the universities and colleges:

• 34 said the Filipino language is only used for Filipino subjects
• 23 said they follow a bilingual form of instruction
• 5 said that Filipino is only used during Buwan ng Wika
• 5 said that they do not have an official language system

Question: "Ginagamit ba ang wikang Filipino sa mga publikasyon, papel, artikulo, libro at iba pang lathalain ng inyong Kolehiyo/Unibersidad?"

Responses from the universities and colleges:

• 65 said that they are use the Filipino language in publications, papers, books, and other writings in their universities and colleges.

Question: "May mga pananaliksik (research) ba sa Filipino/gamit ang wikang Filipino sa inyong kolehiyo/unibersidad? Kung wala, may pagkakataon bang magamit ang wikang Filipino sa mga pananaliksik at mga publikasyon ng inyong kolehiyo/unibersidad? Paano?"

Responses from the universities and colleges:

• 62 said that they have research works written in Filipino.
• 9 said they have no research works written in Filipino.

Question: "May opsiyon ba ang mga estudyante sa inyong kolehiyo/unibersidad na sumulat ng kanilang tesis/disertasyon gamit ang wikang Filipino?"

Responses from the universities and colleges:

• 38 said their students oppose writing their theses or dissertations in Filipino.
• 31 said their students are OK with writing their final academic papers in Filipino.

II. Programa para sa Wikang Filipino sa inyong kolehiyo/unibersidad

Question: "May programa ba para sa wikang Filipino ang inyong Kolehiyo/Unibersidad?"

Responses from the 73 universities and colleges:

• 55 said that they have a Filipino language program.
• 18 said they do not have a Filipino language program.

Beyond the numbers

Tolentino said that more than the numbers, the responses of the universities and colleges are more telling of the current place of Filipino language in higher education.

"Ngunit karamihan sa mga mag-aaral ng Miriam College ay mas bihasa sa pagpapahayag ng kanilang kaisipan sa wikang Ingles kaysa wikang Filipino. Kaya halos lahat ng tesis sa kolehiyo ay nakasulat sa Ingles," read one of Miriam College's replies.

From Leyte Normal University: "Hindi kampante ang mga guro sa wikang Filipino at maaaring mababa ang tingin nila rito."

Tarlac College of Agriculture pointed out that its research panelists are experts in explaining their respective fields in English.

"Dahil mas bihasa ang mga research panelist ng iba’t ibang larangan sa wikang Ingles," it said.

Don Bosco Technical College also pointed out the difficulty in translating scientific or technical terms into Filipino.

"Tila mahirap gamitin ang wikang Filipino sa mga kurso ng computer science, information
technology, entrepreneurship at engineering," it said.

Asia Pacific College said that it is "developing students for the global community," and Filipino subjects are not a priority.

Strengthening use of Filipino

To encourage more Filipinos to use the national language, KWF has been encouraging government agencies to use Filipino more frequently. But to make the general public appreciate the language more, Tolentino said, it should be given more exposure in the classroom.

KWF has been in touch the the Department of Education (DepEd) to discuss more ways to introduce Filipino to students.

"Kahit sa classroom pa lang hindi na nila magustuhan ang Filipino, hindi rin nila ito tatangkilikin. Hindi na nila dadalhin sa labas ng classroom," Tolentino told GMA News Online.

KWF is also encouraging experts in different fields to learn how to translate technical terms into Filipino.

"Naniniwala naman kami na ang Filipino ay epektibo para mapalaganap ang karunungan sa iba't ibang larang," Tolentino said. "Ipapasok na namin ang iba't ibang subjects na kahit hindi mismo ang content ay Filipino ay magagamit ang wikang Filipino para maturo ang larang na iyon."

KWF Sangay ng Salin head Benjamin Mendillo also said that they are also working with Department of Science and Technology (DOST), PAGASA, the Climate Change Commission, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to produce more official statements and documents in the country's national language. — BM, GMA News