Strengthening English as Medium of Instruction

Section 7, Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution provides that for purposes of communication and instruction, the official languages of the Philippines are Filipino and, until otherwise provided by law, English.
Executive Order No. 210 establishes State policy to promote education as a means to achieve and maintain an accelerating rate of economic development and social progress.
Executive Order No. 210 directs measures to develop students’ aptitude, competence and proficiency in the English language to improve their competitive edge in emerging and fast-growing local and international industries, particularly Information and Communications Technology [ICT].
Executive Order No. 210 ties effective English-medium instruction to improvements in the educational system, including training of educators and provision of learning materials and resources.

Executive Order No. 210 requires English to be taught as a second language, starting with the First Grade (Section 1).
Executive Order No. 210 provides that, as provided for 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).
Executive Order No. 210 requires the English language to be the primary medium of instruction in all public and private institutions of learning at the secondary level, including laboratory and/or experimental schools, and non-formal and vocational or technical educational institutions (Section 1).
Executive Order No. 210 sets a time-allotment standard: as primary medium of instruction, the percentage of time allotment for learning areas conducted in English must be not less than seventy percent (70%) of the total time allotment for all learning areas in the secondary level (Section 1).
Executive Order No. 210 states the objective of developing students’ English aptitude, competence, and proficiency to prepare them for job opportunities in technology-driven sectors of the economy (Section 1).

Section 2 encourages institutions of higher education, including State Colleges and Universities [SUCs], to adopt the use of English as the primary medium of instruction in the tertiary level.
Section 2 directs the Commission on Higher Education [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 the Department of Education [DepEd] through National Educators’ Academy of the Philippines [NEAP], Educational Development Project Implementing Task Force [EDPITAF], the CHED, the TESDA, and private sector educational institutions to evaluate the proficiency of educators in the English language.
Section 3 requires these bodies and institutions to conduct training programs nationwide to develop and improve educators’ English proficiency.

The implementing authorities specified in Section 5 must secure funding support to provide adequate learning materials and resources to develop students’ English aptitude, competence, and proficiency (Section 4).
The implementing authorities specified in Section 5 must collaborate in developing an evaluation instrument to monitor educators’ and students’ progress in achieving the policy objectives under Executive Order No. 210 (Section 4).

Section 5 directs the DepEd and the TESDA to take active steps to ensure implementation and monitor compliance in all public and private institutions of learning in the elementary and secondary levels (including laboratory and/or experimental schools) and non-formal and vocational or technical educational institutions.

Section 6 authorizes the DepEd, the CHED and the TESDA to issue appropriate rules and regulations for effective implementation of the policies in Executive Order No. 210.

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

Section 8 provides that Filipino language shall continue to be the medium of instruction in the learning areas of Filipino and Araling Panlipunan.
Section 9 guarantees academic freedom by providing that nothing in Executive Order No. 210 limits the academic freedom of institutions of higher education.

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