There was once a natural spring in a forest from which all the animals drank. The pool, however, came to be inhabited by poisonous frogs. After some time, these frogs were able to take control of the water resource by threatening to poison it unless the other animals did what the frogs wanted.
The term “castration” refers to the removal, by surgical or other means, of the reproductive organ of an animal. The intention is to prevent the animal from spreading an “undesired” genetic trait in succeeding populations.
Pagsurat-Bikol, a three-day seminar-workshop held in Legazpi City last week by education stakeholders, is part of a series of activities designed to accomplish what has never been done before: to establish working orthographies in the mostly unwritten languages and dialects in Kabikolan. The more than 20 writing systems being developed are to be used for making primary teaching materials in those language varieties. In addition, Bicol teachers are scheduled in April to be trained in the use of these locally developed materials in time for the opening of classes in June.
Last month, I was invited to talk to kindergarten and elementary teachers in three places in the Cordilleras about the whys and wherefores of Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTBMLE). I first went to Baguio, then to Buguias and Kibungan in Benguet. On every occasion, the discussions turned to complaints regarding lack of materials in the first language (L1) and lack of training in using these materials to teach the new K-to-12 curriculum.
I CANNOT understand why the Department of Education in its media releases about the K-12 bill exclusively harps on the end goal of adding a couple of years to basic education. As I have always held, it is the NEW curriculum with mastery thereof as its focus that makes K-12 a compelling necessity for our country.
