Filipino Subject as an elective subject

[miksha]

Is there a school in Manila (elementary and HS) where the Filipino subject is elective?

[hunny_ally]

^unless you're sending your kids to international schools, Filipino is required.

[miksha]

eton and brent are marketed as international schools right? does that mean wala sila Filipino subject?

[hunny_ally]

From what I know, meron pa din. And as long as you are a Filipino national, you are still required to take Filipino subjects. Dont quote me on this cause I could be wrong. But personally, unless you are sending your kid to study college abroad, I think it is important for them to take Filipino classes (whether they go to a local private or IS). Filipino is required in college.

This is from the Brent website for Upper School (http://www.brent.edu.ph/upper.school/i..b..information/language_policy.asp):

"Legal Requirements in the Philippines

The Department of Education of the Philippines (DepEd), Order number 37, series of 2003 provides guidelines for students receiving instruction in the national language (Filipino) language. The order states that in high school, students should receive up to two hundred forty minutes of instruction in Filipino and three hundred minutes of instruction in English each week.  Currently BRENT INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL MANILA has other teaching time devoted to Filipino Language teaching in relation to this DepEd requirement. Presidential Decree no. 2022 signed on 31 January 1986 by then President Ferdinand E Marcos recognizes BRENT INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL MANILA as an international institution.  It provides a clause that “to enable the school to continue to implement, execute, or improve its curricular standards and educational program, the school shall determine its own curriculum, standards and medium of instruction, teach whatever language or languages it may deem proper…to maintain the standard of education it has adopted.” (Section 2.a)   Due to this provision and as an international school delivering the IB Diploma program in English, the school has some degree of flexibility in terms of the hour requirement of the teaching of Filipino.  This explains the unique position of the school to be able to teach Filipino to its Filipino nationals while at the same time supporting requirements and spirit of the IB Diploma process.   The school’s status as an international school provides it with exemptions from certain legal requirements as stated earlier."

[saberjade]

I think it's sad that there's talks on Filipino being optional. Filipino is a highly under-appreciated subject, and I think it needs an update and more enthusiastic teachers. My high school teachers made me appreciate the required readings, Ibong Adarna, Florante and Laura, Noli me Tangere, El Fili, and even the short stories and poems.

But yeah, it's the international schools that offer the subject as an elective.

[khriseeee]

I went to Brent, Filipino is one of the choices under foreign language and in fact they offer it nuder the IB program as well.

And I agree with the others, if you plan on sending your child to a local college/university, have them take Filipino classes. I always assumed I would study abroad for college and ended up going to Ateneo. It was HELL for me, Ateneo does not recognize students from International schools. I had to endure 4 semesters of regular Filipino classes. If you want to attend the Filipino for Foreigners classes, you will need to register as an alien - with all the government documentation and additional fees.

DLSU does offer Filipino for foreigners without having to enroll as a resident alien. My brother and other Brent friends were able to take this class and they did fine.

[miksha]

for DLSU is this only for college or kasama elementary?