CHED asks Laguna university to explain ‘English only’ policy

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has asked the Pamantasan ng Cabuyao in Laguna to issue an explanation on its policy mandating everyone on the campus to communicate in English language only. 

In a message to reporters, CHED chairperson Prospero "Popoy" de Vera" III said he had talked with the university president “to understand the basis and intent of his proposed policy.”

“I advised him to immediately issue a press release to explain and clarify the issue and to respond to media interviews. It is best that the media interview him so he can explain the proposed policy,” de Vera said. 

In a now deleted Facebook post, the university said it would implement the English Only Policy starting February 3, 2025, in line with its “vision of developing globally competitive and world-class students.” 

The university said that all transactions and engagements with officers, students, employees, and workers should be communicated in English, whether written or otherwise. 

GMA News Online sent an email to the school management and messaged its official Facebook account for reaction and will post the response as soon as available.

The viral post received backlash from netizens and concerned groups. 

Gabriela Youth UP Diliman spokesperson Francheska Reyes said that the policy is not the answer to the worsening crisis in education quality in the country, but increasing the budget allocation for the education sector. 

“Nakakabahala ito. Isang indikasyon kung gaano na kalala ang pagyakap sa utos ng dayuhan at mga neoliberal na polisiya. Hindi kami pabrika ng murang lakas-paggawa para sa pandaigdigang merkado,” Reyes said.

(This is disturbing. It’s an indication of how badly we embrace foreign rule and neoliberal policies. We are not a factory of cheap labor for the global market.) 

“Turuan ninyo kaming maging kritikal mag-isip at hindi parang robot na mahusay mag-Ingles. Sapat na badyet sa edukasyon ang solusyon at hindi dayuhang wikang pangkomunikasyon,” she added. 

(You should teach us to be critical thinkers and not to become like robots who speak English well. The solution is giving enough budget to the education sector and not this foreign language policy.)—LDF, GMA Integrated News