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Bilingual programs need more support
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Posted on Jun 29 2000
Pacific Islands Bilingual Bicultural Association local chapter president Jesus Elemato is calling for more legislative support in the expansion of bilingual education in the Northern Marianas, one of the Commonwealth’s underfunded educational programs.
Mr. Elameto said that one major factor that hampers CNMI from going further than its current pace in this area of study is cost.
“We always look at the costs. But the more we focus on the expense, the lesser we are likely to see vast improvements in the future,” said Mr. Elameto, Tanapag Elementary School principal.
Comprehensive studies on the feasibility of a satellite school that projected to enhance the quality of bilingual programs here in the CNMI should be conducted, according to Mr. Elameto.
He added that the only way local leaders can be convinced of the project’s viability is through concrete research that would back the bilingual pilot school for the Chamorro and Carolinian languages.
“If you ask a legislator which is his priority, water, power or bilingual? We already know that answer to that. We have to look out for basic needs. But through actual studies, legislators may be compelled to be receptive to such ideas. Unless we produce studies and findings,” said the Tanapag school administrator.
Students who have poor familiarization with their basic language usually lag behind in the normal reading standards, he cited. “That’s why we need to inject the concept of a satellite school,” he said at a session of the 19th PIBBA Conference.
Sixteen topics were supposed to be discussed on the first day of the formal sessions, including Language Policy in Guam, Oral traditions of Pacific Islanders, Kantan Chamorro, and improvement of indigenous teachers.
Facilitators of the topics for discussion hailed from some the five political island entities who are taking part in the ongoing conference.
“The good thing about these different sessions is that they emphasize the theme of the conference which is the challenge in the new millennium,” said Mr. Elameto. (MM)
