THE KABATAAN Partylist condemned the newly enacted law that prohibits the use of the mother tongue as a medium of instruction from Kindergarten to Grade 3.

“This is a regressive step,” the group stated. “It reflects the colonial mentality still present among government officials. By sidelining local languages, it sends the message that proficiency in English is the true mark of intelligence.”

The partylist advocates for the broader use of local languages in public institutions, including schools and government agencies, to ensure that citizens fully understand important concepts being discussed.

The group argues that the Marcos Jr. administration’s push to discontinue mother tongue instruction aligns with its strategy of producing youth proficient in basic English but with shallow reading comprehension, essentially training them to be obedient laborers.

“This produces a workforce attractive to foreign companies and large corporations—workers who are underpaid and whose rights are trampled upon,” they stressed.

Kabataan Partylist, together with ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro and Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas, also filed House Bill 564, which mandates at least nine units of Filipino subjects in the college curriculum to promote the development of local languages.