Language and Education

Why support HB 7503 FSL Bill

FSL law 2013 RA 10533 [REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10533]

AN ACT ENHANCING THE PHILIPPINE BASIC EDUCATION SYSTEM BY

STRENGTHENING ITS CURRICULUM AND INCREASING THE NUMBER OF YEARS
FOR BASIC EDUCATION, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

and RA 10410

Early Education bill

Claims of Paper

The Philippine educational system continues to face tremendous problems and

challenges. This paper explores the vital role of the legislature in ensuring crafting of
legislation for the legal recognition of FSL, including in education, is essential.

underscores the role of that language in education can play in increasing the functional
literacy of children, particulary the Deaf children. But the The legislature ought to pass
the Filipino Sign Language Bill HB 7503 into law which shall provide for a quality
education for the Deaf. From a linguistic perspective, recognizing the Filipino Slngauge
as the national language of the Filipino Deaf children not only upholds the enhancement
of the Philippne basic education as embodied in RA 10533 and RA 10410 but also
sypports the development for all initiative of the United Nations (UN) as agreed upon on
the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in which the Philippines
is a signatory.

It is a fact that our entire educational system is beset by tremendous problems.. However, the concerns
raised here must focus on language and literacy issues and not be sidetracked by these difficult circumstances. The
complexities facing education of Deaf students in the Philippines are not unique. The World Federation of the Deaf,
an international NGO of 130 national associations of Deaf people, founded in 1951, has consultative status with the
United Nations and is represented in international groups and professional organizations, providing expert advice on
Deaf issues. It calls upon national and regional/provincial governments to: