The Alyansa ng Mga Tagapagtanggol ng Wikang Filipino (Tanggol Wika) opposed the plan to reduce or completely remove Filipino subjects in senior high school (SHS). Tanggol Wika received information that the plan emerged in the current review of the Department of Education (DepEd) of the new curriculum for SHS.

In a draft received by the group, the required Filipino subjects in SHS will be reduced from three to one. Some are even pushing for the complete removal of the subject from the curriculum.

Tanggol Wika presented a 10-point explanation for opposing the plan. According to the alliance, the plan contradicts the promotion of the national language in education.

It will further deepen the crisis caused by the removal of Filipino subjects in college and Grade 1. The new Matatag curriculum removed Filipino from Grade 1. Meanwhile, the Commission on Higher Education Memorandum Order No. 20, Series of 2013, removed Filipino and Literature as required subjects in college.

When CMO No. 20, S. 2013 was implemented, around 10,000 teachers suffered lay offs, reduced teaching loads and salaries, loss of positions, or transfer to another level or subject. Those who transferred to SHS may possibly lose their jobs again.

Tanggol Wika added that the regime is outrightly lying for saying that using Filipino as a teaching language is enough to replace a Filipino subject. This plan disregards studies strongly correlating national development and a strong and intellectualized national language.

“If the reduction or removal of Filipino subjects in SHS is allowed, it will one day be gradually removed and completely eliminated from junior high school and elementary,” the alliance said.

Facing this, Tanggol Wika called for a stop to the reduction and especially the removal of Filipino subjects in SHS. The group challenges the DepEd to consult with various sectors in planning and developing the curriculum to ensure that it responds to the needs of students and the community.

The alliance also emphasized the need for various personalities and groups that promote the national language to unite in opposing the attack on Filipino subjects. It can be recalled that the alliance also expressed opposition to the passage of the law that abolished the Mother Tongue Based-Multilingual Education program.