KG to GRADE 3 to be taught in Filipino and English: Mother Tongue no longer required

In a major shift in language policy, the Department of Education (DepEd) has announced that starting School Year (SY) 2025–2026, Filipino and English will become the primary languages of instruction for Kindergarten to Grade 3. This change officially ends the mandatory use of the Mother Tongue as the medium of instruction in early-grade classrooms nationwide.

The move is formalized through DepEd Order No. 20, s. 2025, signed by Education Secretary Sonny Angara. The order outlines that Filipino and English—along with Filipino Sign Language for deaf and hard-of-hearing learners—will be the main media of instruction in early education. Meanwhile, regional languages will now serve as auxiliary tools to aid in learning transitions through translanguaging approaches.

This policy shift aligns with Republic Act No. 12027, which repeals the compulsory use of the Mother Tongue and restricts its use as a primary medium of instruction to specific monolingual settings that meet rigorous standards.

DepEd emphasized that this new direction seeks to strengthen foundational literacy and learning outcomes by focusing on Filipino and English while still valuing local languages as supportive resources in the classroom.