Gatchalian seeks inquiry on use of Filipino Sign Language for deaf education

Amid the celebration of the International Day of Sign Languages today, September 23, Senator Win Gatchalian is pushing for a Senate inquiry on the impact of using the Filipino Sign Language (FSL) as the language of instruction of deaf education.

In filing Proposed Senate Resolution No. 14, Gatchalian noted serious neglect in the implementation of laws that stress the importance of the FSL, including the Filipino Sign Language (FSL) Act (Republic Act No. 11106), which was signed into law in 2018. Aside from mandating the use of the FSL as the language of instruction of deaf education, the FSL Act further mandates that the FSL shall be the medium of official communication in all transactions involving the deaf.

The lawmaker flagged the insufficient training of teachers on FSL, the non-promotion of the licensing and mobilization of deaf teachers, and the lack of FSL materials, which prevent deaf learners from improving their learning process. Gatchalian also noted the non-submission of the annual report on the FSL Act's monitoring and implementation, which was supposed to be submitted by an Inter-Agency Council created by the law.

Gatchalian further lamented that many deaf graduates fail the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) which does not match the competencies for which they are prepared for. This creates an institutional barrier for deaf graduates who end up as tutors with low-paying jobs instead of entering the educational system as teachers.

"Kung nais nating tiyakin na hindi mapagkakaitan ng dekalidad na edukasyon ang ating mga deaf learners, dapat nating tiyakin na maayos na naipapatupad ang batas na nagsusulong sa Filipino Sign Language Act. Dapat rin nating tugunan ang kakulangan ng mga sapat na materyales at oportunidad para sa ating mga deaf teachers dahil ang ating mga deaf learners ang napag-iiwanan," said Gatchalian, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.

Gatchalian added that the FSL Act's implementing rules and regulations were only signed on December 6, 2021, three years after the law's effectivity.

Based on Department of Education's data for School Year 2019-2020, 28,740 learners with disabilities were diagnosed with a hearing impairment or manifested difficulty in hearing.

Paggamit ng Filipino Sign Language sa deaf education pinarerepaso ni Gatchalian

Sa gitna ng pagdiriwang ng International Day of Sign Languages ngayong araw, Setyembre 23, isinusulong ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang pagrepaso ng Senado sa paggamit ng Filipino Sign Language (FSL) bilang language of instruction o wika sa pagtuturo sa deaf education.

Sa paghain niya ng Proposed Senate Resolution No. 14, pinuna ni Gatchalian na hindi naipapatupad nang maayos ang mga batas na nagbibigay halaga sa FSL, kabilang na ang Filipino Sign Language (FSL) Act (Republic Act No. 11106) na naisabatas noong 2018 pa. Maliban sa paggamit ng FLS bilang language of instruction sa deaf education, mandato rin ng FSL Act na gawing opisyal na wika ang FSL sa lahat ng transaksyong may kinalaman sa mga bingi.

Pinuna rin ni Gatchalian ang kakulangan ng teacher training para sa FSL, ang non-promotion at mobilization ng mga deaf teachers, at ang kakulangan ng mga FSL materials - pawang mga balakid sa pagkatuto ng mga deaf learners - na ayon sa mambabatas ay dapat na isinusumite ng Inter-Agency Council bilang taunang ulat nito upang mamonitor at masuri ang implementasyon ng batas.

Dismayado rin si Gatchalian na marami sa mga deaf graduates ang hindi nakakapasa sa Examination for Teachers (LET) dahil hindi tugma ang kanilang kakayahan sa kanilang pinag-aralan. Nagdudulot ito ng institutional barrier para sa mga deaf graduates, aniya, dahil imbes na maging ganap silang guro ay pumapasok na lang sila sa pagtu-tutor na may mas mababang sahod.

"Kung nais nating tiyakin na hindi mapagkakaitan ng dekalidad na edukasyon ang ating mga deaf learners, dapat nating tiyakin na maayos na naipapatupad ang batas na nagsusulong sa Filipino Sign Language Act. Dapat rin nating tugunan ang kakulangan ng mga sapat na materyales at oportunidad para sa ating mga deaf teachers dahil ang ating mga deaf learners ang napag-iiwanan," ani Gatchalian, Chairman ng Senate Committee on Basic Education.

Inilabas ang implementing rules and regulations o IRR ng FSL Act noong Disyembre 6, 2021 lamang, tatlong taon matapos malagdaan ang batas.

Batay sa datos ng Department of Education para sa School Year 2019-2020, mahigit dalawampu't walong (28,740) libong mga mag-aaral na may kapansanan ang naitalang may hearing impairment o hirap makarinig.