Policy to Strengthen English as Instruction Medium

Section 1 bases the policy on Section 7, Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution, which provides that for purposes of communication and instruction, the official languages are Filipino and until otherwise provided by law, English.
Section 1 declares that the State promotes education as a means to achieve and maintain an accelerating rate of economic development and social progress.
Section 1 directs the education system toward developing students’ aptitude, competence and proficiency in English to maintain and improve competitiveness in emerging industries, particularly Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
Section 1 links strengthening English instruction to improving the educational system, including training educators and providing learning materials and resources.
The order directs implementation through DepEd, CHED, and TESDA, reflecting their endorsement under the WHEREAS clauses.

Section 1 establishes the policy that English shall be taught as a second language, starting with the First Grade.
Section 1 mandates that, as provided in the 2002 Basic Education Curriculum, English shall be used as the medium of instruction for English, Mathematics and Science from at least the Third Grade level.
Section 1 requires that the English language be the primary medium of instruction in the secondary level in all public and private institutions of learning, including laboratory and/or experimental schools and non-formal and vocational or technical educational institutions.
Section 1 sets a time-allotment expectation that, for the secondary level, the percentage of time for learning areas conducted in English is not less than seventy percent (70%) of the total time allotment for all learning areas in the secondary level.
Section 1 sets the objective to develop students’ English proficiency to prepare them for job opportunities in technology-driven sectors of the economy.

Section 2 encourages institutions of higher education, including State Colleges and Universities (SUCs), to adopt the English language as the primary medium of instruction in the tertiary level.
Section 2 directs CHED to adopt measures to promote and encourage the use of English as the primary medium of instruction in tertiary or higher education.

Section 3 directs DepEd, through NEAP (National Educators’ Academy of the Philippines), EDPITAF (Educational Development Project Implementing Task Force), and through educational institutions in the private sector, to evaluate educators’ proficiency in English.
Section 3 directs DepEd, CHED, and TESDA to evaluate educators’ English proficiency.
Section 3 requires these bodies to conduct training programs nationwide to develop and improve educators’ English proficiency.

Section 4 requires the implementing authorities to secure funding support to provide adequate learning materials and resources to develop students’ English aptitude, competence, and proficiency.
Section 4 requires the implementing authorities to collaborate in developing an evaluation instrument to monitor progress of educators and students in achieving the policy objectives.

Section 5 directs DepEd and TESDA to take active steps to ensure implementation of the Executive Order.
Section 5 directs DepEd and TESDA to monitor compliance in all public and private institutions of learning in the elementary and secondary levels.
Section 5 expressly includes compliance monitoring for institutions that are laboratory and/or experimental schools, and for non-formal and vocational or technical educational institutions.

Section 6 authorizes DepEd, CHED, and TESDA to issue the appropriate rules and regulations to ensure effective implementation of the policies established in the Executive Order.

Section 7 requires DepEd, CHED, and TESDA to submit to the President a plan of action.
The plan of action must be submitted within thirty (30) days from the issuance of Executive Order No. 210.
Section 7 requires the plan to effectively implement the Executive Order’s provisions.

Section 8 preserves the constitutional policy of promoting the evolution and enrichment of Filipino as the national language.
Section 8 mandates that Filipino language shall continue to be the medium of instruction in the learning areas of Filipino and Araling Panlipunan.
Section 9 guarantees that the Executive Order shall not be construed as limiting the academic freedom of institutions of higher education.

Section 10 repeals, amends, or modifies executive issuances, rules and regulations, or parts thereof that are inconsistent with Executive Order No. 210.