SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian welcomed the Department of Education’s decision to implement Filipino and English as the primary languages of instruction for students from Kindergarten to Grade 3, calling it a move aligned with the recently enacted law that discontinues the use of the mother tongue in early education.

“This directive from the Department of Education is a welcome development,” Gatchalian said.

“It is consistent with the mandate of Republic Act No. 12027, which I authored and sponsored, effectively ending the use of the mother tongue as a medium of instruction in schools,” he added.

Republic Act No. 12027, signed into law earlier this year, repealed the mother tongue-based multilingual education policy previously implemented under the K to 12 program.

According to Gatchalian, this policy shift will help improve student learning and comprehension, especially given the challenges many schools have faced in implementing the mother tongue policy effectively.

“With the implementation of this new policy, we are hopeful that our learners will find it easier to understand their lessons, particularly because the use of the mother tongue has not been effective in our schools,” he said.

The senator has long advocated for reforms in basic education, citing poor learning outcomes and the lack of resources and teacher training as reasons to reconsider the mother tongue policy.

Education officials are expected to roll out the revised instruction guidelines in time for the upcoming academic year.