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FILIPINOS think their competency in English improved in
April 2008 compared with March 2006, according to the
Social Weather Stations Inc. (SWS).
And, in
the view of Cebu Rep. Eduardo Gullas, “ample government
spending and strong support from the country’s booming
information technology-enabled business-process
outsourcing industry” had helped build up the
English-language skills of many Filipinos.
Gullas,
an educator, said over the weekend the survey, “2008 SWS
National Survey: Tracking English Proficiency,” showed
that, “at the very least, we have averted a further
deterioration in our English-language proficiency.”
He is
author of House Bill 305, which seeks to reinforce the
language skills of Filipinos by reinstating English as a
medium of instruction in all school levels. Of the 240
member of the House of Representatives, 207 endorsed the
bill.
In its
report, the SWS said that in April 2008, 76 percent of
Filipino adults (up from 65 percent in 2006) said they
understand spoken English and 75 percent (from 65
percent in 2006) said they read English. In terms of
writing in English, 61 percent said they write in the
language, up from 48 percent in 2006.
The
survey was commissioned by the American Chamber of
Commerce in the Philippines (AmCham) and the Makati
Business Club.
In terms
of speaking the language, 46 percent said yes and about
38 percent said they think in English, up from the 2006
survey of 32 percent and 27 percent, respectively.
Meanwhile, 8 percent of the people surveyed said they
are not competent in the English language, lower than
the 14 percent who deemed themselves not adept in using
English.
During
the interaction, Makati Business Club chairman Ramon del
Rosario Jr. said the problem in English proficiency is
part of the overall problem of basic education in the
country.
Del
Rosario, also the chairman of the Philippine Business
for Education, said the basic-education reform agenda (BESRA)
is the most valid approach in solving the problems in
basic education. He said BESRA can address the problems
in English, as well math proficiency, by developing a
solid foundation in basic education. Its approach is to
improve overall the quality of basic education.
Developing English proficiency is a significant plus in
recruitment and arming schoolchildren with the other
skills will enable them to cope with the opportunities
in the global arena in the future,” he said.
Amcham
director Rick Santos said developing the Filipinos’
competency in English must be sustained to enable more
Filipinos to avail themselves of the economic and
business opportunities in the global market.
Department of Education assistant secretary Teresita
Inciong said the government has allotted P285 million to
develop some of the speech laboratories in public high
schools to help improve English competency of public
School students. |
