‘Laguna university’s English-only policy counterproductive’

MANILA, Philippines — The “English-only” policy of a school in Cabuyao City in Laguna could become counterproductive and could hamper deeper learning among Filipino students, according to the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino.

Arthur Casanova, KWF chairman, told The STAR that the policy goes against Executive Order 335 issued by former president Corazon Aquino, mandating the use of the Filipino language in all official communications, transactions and correspondence in government.

Casanova said the KWF was “shocked and saddened” upon learning about the “English-only” policy of the Pamantasan ng Cabuyao.

“All local government units should abide by EO 335,” he said, noting that the Pamantasan ng Cabuyao is an LGU-run institution.

The Pamantasan ng Cabuyao implemented on Feb. 3 its directive of turning the school into an “English-speaking campus.”

According to an announcement on its Facebook page, all correspondence and transactions should be “conducted exclusively in English, both in written and spoken communication.”

The policy, according to the post, was in line with the university’s “vision of developing globally competitive and world class students.”

Librado Dimaunahan, Pamantasan ng Cabuyao president, later clarified that the school’s “English only” policy applies only to “limited engagement,” which he defines as “official transactions, business and meetings with students.”

“We are not saying that even during chit-chats with friends, students should be speaking English. The policy is not about that. It’s a limited engagement,” Dimaunahan said.

According to Casanova, students could struggle translating their thoughts from their native language to English, whether it be in spoken or written form.

He asserted that educational institutions, such as universities, should be the first to promote Filipino and other native languages as intellectual languages.