Legal Bases of

MTB-MLE
 MTB- MLE
"Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education

It recognizes the importance of incorporating the

language spoken at home into the learning process.
It is believed to contribute to better understanding,
retention, and overall educational achievement,
especially in the early stages of education. This
approach is often implemented in regions where
there is linguistic diversity, with the goal of
promoting inclusive and culturally relevant
 1987 Philippine Constitution
Article XIV - Language

Section 6. The national language of the Philippines

is Filipino. As it evolves, it shall be further
developed and enriched on the basis of existing
Philippine and other languages.
Subject to provisions of law and as the Congress
may deem appropriate, the Government shall take
steps to initiate and sustain the use of Filipino as a
medium of official communication and as language
of instruction in the educational system.
 1987 Philippine Constitution
Article XIV - Language

Section 7. For purposes of communication and

instruction, the official languages of the Philippines
are Filipino and, until otherwise provided by law,
English.
The regional languages are the auxiliary official
languages in the regions and shall serve as
auxiliary media of instruction therein.
Spanish and Arabic shall be promoted on a
voluntary and optional basis.
1987 Philippine Constitution
Article XIV - Language

Section 9. The Congress shall establish a national

language commission composed of
representatives of various regions and disciplines
which shall undertake, coordinate, and promote
researches for the development, propagation,
and preservation of Filipino and other languages.
1987 Philippine Constitution
Article XIV – Arts and Culture

Section 14. The State shall foster the

preservation, enrichment, and dynamic evolution
of a Filipino national culture based on the
principle of unity in diversity in a climate of free
artistic and intellectual expression.
1987 Philippine Constitution
Article XIV – Arts and Culture

Section 15. Arts and letters shall enjoy the

patronage of the State. The State shall conserve,
promote, and popularize the nation’s historical
and cultural heritage and resources, as well as
artistic creations.
1987 Philippine Constitution
Article XIV – Arts and Culture

Section 17. The State shall recognize, respect,

and protect the rights of indigenous cultural
communities to preserve and develop their
cultures, traditions, and institutions. It shall
consider these rights in the formulation of
national plans and policies.
1987 Philippine Constitution
Article XIV – Arts and Culture

Section 18. (1) The State shall ensure equal

access to cultural opportunities through the
educational system, public or private cultural
entities, scholarships, grants and other
incentives, and community cultural centers, and
other public venues.
 RA 10157
“Kindergarten Act of 2011”

SEC. 5. Medium of Instruction. – The State shall

hereby adopt the mother tongue-based
multilingual education (MTB-MLE) method. The
mother tongue of the learner shall be the
primary medium of instruction for teaching and
learning in the kindergarten level.
 RA 10533
“Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013”

SEC. 2. …Basic education shall be delivered in

languages understood by the learners as the
language plays a strategic role in shaping the
formative years of learners.
 RA 10533
“Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013”

Section 2 (Declaration of Policy). (c) Make

education learner-oriented and responsive to the
needs, cognitive and cultural capacity, the
circumstances and diversity of learners, schools
and communities through the appropriate
languages of teaching and learning, including
mother tongue as a learning resource.
 RA 10533
“Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013”
Section 4. For kindergarten and the first three (3)
years of elementary education, instruction, teaching
materials and assessment shall be in the regional or
native language of the learners. The Department of
Education (DepED) shall formulate a mother language
transition program from Grade 4 to Grade 6 so that
Filipino and English shall be gradually introduced as
languages of instruction until such time when these two
(2) languages can become the primary languages of
instruction at the secondary level.
 RA 10533
“Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013”
Section 5. Curriculum Development.
The standards and principles which served
as guide in the development of the K to 12
curriculum that have the bearing on
MTBMLE are:
 RA 10533
“Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013”

(a) The curriculum shall be learner-centered,

inclusive and developmentally appropriate;
(b) The curriculum shall be relevant,
responsive and research-based;
(c) The curriculum shall be culture-sensitive;
(d) The curriculum shall be contextualized
and global;
 RA 10533
“Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013”

(f) The curriculum shall adhere to the principles

and framework of Mother Tongue-Based
Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) which starts
from where the learners are and from what they
already knew proceeding from the known to the
unknown; instructional materials and capable
teachers to implement the MTB-MLE curriculum
shall be available;
 RA 10533
“Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013”

(h) The curriculum shall be flexible enough to enable and

allow schools to localize, indigenize and enhance the
same based on their respective educational and social
contexts. The production and development of locally
produced teaching materials shall be encouraged and
approval of these materials shall devolve to the regional
and division education units.
 RA 10533
“Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013”

(h) The curriculum shall be flexible enough to enable and

allow schools to localize, indigenize and enhance the
same based on their respective educational and social
contexts. The production and development of locally
produced teaching materials shall be encouraged and
approval of these materials shall devolve to the regional
and division education units.
 DepEd Order No. 74, s. 2009
Institutionalizing Mother Tongue-Based
Multilingual Education (MLE)

1. The lessons and findings of various local initiatives and

international studies in basic education have validated the
superiority of the use of the learner’s mother tongue or
first language in improving learning outcomes and
promoting Education for All (EFA).
 DepEd Order No. 74, s. 2009
Institutionalizing Mother Tongue-Based
Multilingual Education (MLE)

2. Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education,

hereinafter referred to as MLE, is the effective use of more
than two languages for literacy and instruction.
Henceforth, it shall be institutionalized as a fundamental
educational policy and program in this Department in the
whole stretch of formal education including pre-school and
in the Alternative Learning System (ALS).
 DepEd Order No. 74, s. 2009
Institutionalizing Mother Tongue-Based
Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE)

3. The learners first language (L1) is the primary medium

of instruction (MOI) from pre-school until, at least grade
three. During such period, L1 shall be the main vehicle to
teach understanding and mastery of all subjects areas.
 DepEd Order No. 16, s. 2012
Guidelines on the Implementation of The Mother
Tongue-Based- Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE)

Starting School Year (SY) 2012-2013, public schools

are required, specifically in Kindergarten, Grades 1, 2, and
3, to implement the Mother Tongue Based-Multilingual
Education as part of the K to 12 Basic Education Program.
 DepEd Order No. 16, s. 2012
“Institutionalizing Mother Tongue-Based
Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE)”

Eight (8) major languages or Lingua Franca and

others as cited below shall be offered as a learning area
and utilized as language of instruction for SY 2012-2013:
a. Tagalog; g. Hiligaynon;
b. Kapampangan; h. Waray;
c. Pangasinense; i. Tausug;
d. Iloko; j. Maguindanaoan;
e. Bikol; k. Maranao; and
f. Cebuano; l. Chabacano
 DepEd Order No. 31, s. 2013
“Clarifications on the Policy Guidelines on the
Implementation of the Language Learning Areas
and Their Time Allotment in Grades 1 and 2 of
the K to 12 Basic Education Program”
a. Mother Tongue is used as a Medium of Instruction
(MOI) for Grades 1 and 2 for teaching Mathematics,
Araling Panlipunan (AP), Music, Arts, Physical
Education and Health (MAPEH) and Edukasyon sa
Pagpapakatao (EsP);

b. Mother Tongue is taught as a separate Learning

Area in Grades 1 and 2;
 DepEd Order No. 31, s. 2013
“Clarifications on the Policy Guidelines on the
Implementation of the Language Learning Areas and
Their Time Allotment in Grades 1 and 2 of the K to 12
Basic Education Program”
c. Filipino, as a Learning Area, is first introduced
in Grade 1 during the second quarter (2nd
Q)/grading period;

d. English, as a Learning Area, is first introduced

in Grade 1 during the third quarter (3rd
Q)/grading period…