DepEd Removes Mother Tongue Requirement for K to 3, Shifts to Filipino and English in 2025-2026

The Department of Education (DepEd) has made a significant change in the medium of instruction for Kindergarten to Grade 3, officially ending the mandatory use of the Mother Tongue in early-grade instruction nationwide. DepEd Order No. 20, series of 2025, states that Filipino and English will be the primary media of instruction for these learners, with regional languages as auxiliary media. The new policy aims to provide a flexible and context-responsive approach to language use in the classroom, considering factors like learner profile, community language use, and teacher capacity.

A language mapping policy aligned with Republic Act No. 12027 will be issued to guide MOI selection and implementation for Key Stage 1 starting SY 2026–2027. The survey results on languages spoken by learners will determine the appropriate MOI at the classroom level. The use of Mother Tongue is now optional and limited to monolingual classrooms meeting specific criteria. Regional and Indigenous Peoples’ languages will be supported as auxiliary media, and Filipino Sign Language will be the primary MOI for deaf and hard-of-hearing learners.

DepEd cited challenges in implementing the previous Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) policy, especially in linguistically diverse settings. The new policy aims to address these challenges by providing structured options for MOI, promoting comprehension, equity, and active learning among diverse early-grade learners.

The policy applies to all public and private elementary schools, Community Learning Centers (CLCs), Alternative Learning System (ALS) programs, and Philippine Schools Overseas (PSOs), with specific provisions for Indigenous Peoples Education (IPEd) and Special Education (SPED) programs. Assessment, teacher support, monitoring, and reporting mechanisms are in place to ensure effective implementation of the new MOI policy.

According to the source: Manila Bulletin.