Philippine E-Journals

Bridging Research and Practice in Literacy Work among Minority Language Groups in the Philippines

Ma. Lourdes S. Bautista

Discipline: Education

 

Abstract:

The paper presents the context in which literacy work is being done in the Philippines: extensive multilingualism, a large number of minority language groups, and varying estimates of the extent of basic and functional illiteracy. The work of the Summer institute of Linguistics and the Educational Research Program of the University of the Philippines in addressing the problem of illiteracy especially among minority language groups is then highlighted. The paper concludes with the lessons from both the theoretical and field aspects of literacy work: the appropriateness of the mother tongue as the initial language of literacy, the usefulness of a bridging program from vernacular literacy to national language literacy, the importance of a literate environment and community-based literacy projects in fostering literacy, and the need for political will to achieve the eradication of illiteracy.