THE HOUSE of Representatives approved on third reading the measure that will suspend the implementation of mother tongue as the medium of instruction from Kindergarten to Grade 3.

The move to stop the program aims to address the lack of learning materials and ensure the adherence to the constitutional mandate of providing quality education accessible to all learners in basic education.

The House said that 240 lawmakers voted in favor of House Bill 6717.

The bill, however, provides that the Filipino Sign Language shall remain the medium of instruction for students with pertinent disabilities, and allows the continued implementation of the mother tongue in schools where it is assessed to be effective.

Section 2 of HB 6717 mandates the Department of Education to coordinate with the Komisyon sa Wikang Pilipino in developing books, teaching materials and other supplies necessary in the implementation of the use of the mother tongue language.

The two agencies should also certify the appropriateness and capacity of all local school districts to use the mother tongue languages as mode of instruction in kindergarten to Grade 3, according to the bill.

The proposed legislation also provides for the automatic repeal of the measure upon the approval of Congress of the assessment report and the certification of DepEd to Congress on the readiness of all the schools districts to implement the use of mother tongue as the medium of instruction for learners in kindergarten to Grade 3.