English in Philippine education: Solution or problem?

• Main Author: Bernardo, Allan Benedict I.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2008
• Subjects: English language—Philippines; English language—Study and teaching—Filipino speakers; Education, Bilingual > Philippines; Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/558
• Institution: De La Salle University

This chapter examines the role of English in Philippine education. It focuses on the arguments for maintaining English as the medium of instruction. From the earliest implementation of English as the medium of instruction policy during the American colonial period, it was already argued that English would be the better medium to give Filipinos access to the knowledge of other civilizations. The most overt and persistent arguments for maintaining English as the medium of instruction involve the supposed advantage of English as a medium for intellectual pursuits, for international communication, and for economic advancement, especially in the current globalizing world environment.