Education chief denies 'beki' to be used in schools

MANILA, Philippines - Education Secretary Armin Luistro on Tuesday denied that the department is mulling the possibility of using 'beki''or gayspeak as medium of instruction in schools.  

 

In a text message, Luistro said that though the news reports quoted him correctly, the reporter 'added his wrong interpretation.'

 

"I never said it (gayspeak) will be part of our medium of instruction especially since beki language is not that developed yet," he said, adding that gay lingo has yet to be accepted by majority of the population. 

 

 In a recent interview with reporters, Luistro said gay language can be part of the official communication if it is acceptable to the majority. 

 

"Ang paggamit ng mga bagong nabubuong kolokyal na kagaya ng ‘beki’ ay kasama sa pagbabago ng mga wika at hindi natin mapipigilan. Kapag ang ganitong salita ay naging katanggap-tanggap na sa lipunan at ginagamit na ng mayoridad, saka pa lang ito naisasali sa opisyal na komunikasyon," he was quoted as saying. 

 

And to compensate for the growing number of middle-class children being more fluent in English than Filipino, Luistro said the government's K to 12 program will address such concerns. 

 

"Ang naumpisahan na nating reporma sa bagong K-to-12 curriculum ay nagnanais na tumugon sa hamon na mahasa ang ating kabataan na gamitin at palawigin ang wikang ating kinagisnan pati na rin ang ating Pambansang Wika. Kasama na rito ang paggamit ng kanilang unang wika," he said.