LOCALIZATION, CONTEXTUALIZATION AND MOTHER TONGUE-BASED INSTRUCTION IN PHILIPPINE EDUCATION

Faith Joy M. Gonzales

Localization, contextualization and mother tongue-based instruction seem to be in conjunction with each other. For instance, in this current education system in the Philippines when the use of mother tongue is mandated in the primary grade level, the use of mother tongue seems to be involved in the localization and contextualIzation of instruction. Teachers who are actively engaged in implementing context-based approach or contextualization are typically observed to utilize mother tongue, Filipino or other local languages in the delivery of instruction to make it more contextualized and comprehensible for the learners. There is a salient relationship between the use of mother tongue and contextualization of instruction as through the use of mother tongue, contextualized contents get to be conveyed in a more familiar and comprehensible manner for the learners.

The reality of the current education system shows the problems regarding the scarcity of textbooks and other learning materials in public basic education schools. The Department of Education continues to implement noble academic programs like MTB-MLE and promotes strategies like contextualization and localization of instruction. The initiatives and opportunities are evident, yet the mechanisms to implement and execute such educational initiatives seem to be scarce and limited. For instance, the mandate of institutionalizing context-based approach is concrete, however, problems in terms of lack of context-based instructional and learning materials prevail. Contextualization becomes more realistic and attainable when learners are exposed to the use of teaching-learning resources that are context-based or connected to their life-relevant experiences and prior knowledge. Teachers are called to be engaged in the development of teacher-made contextualized materials to address the problems regarding the limited access of learners to learning tools and materials.

--oOo-The author is Teacher I at Sapang Biabas Resettlement Elementary School