The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) granted clearance for the conduct of the Language of Instruction Transition in Education Systems (LITES) Survey by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) in Regions V and VI. Said activity is in cooperation with the University of Notre Dame and the United State Agency International Development. While the actual data collection will be commissioned out to a third-party organization to be determine through a public bidding being conducted by PIDS.

The LITES Survey will explore the role of the key classroom/teacher factors in predicting multilingual literacy outcomes and the relative strength of the relationships. Said study also aims to examine the role of different language and reading sub-skills in predicting reading comprehension. Lastly, this aims to analyze the pathways shaping the first language and second language and reading comprehension influencing the linguistic characteristics of individual learners.

Specifically, the target subject of the study are grades 3 and 4 students from public schools who use Bikol and Hiligaynon as a medium of instruction (mother tongue) in Regions V and VI, respectively. However, the selection of participating schools will be limited to the provinces of Albay and Camarines Sur in Region V, while participating schools will come from provinces of Iloilo and Negros Occidental in Region VI. The study will involve 600 grade 3 students, 600 grade 4 students and 120 classroom teachers.

Major data items to be collected in the survey are as follows:

1. demographic characteristics of students and teachers;

2. language commonly used at home;

3. behavior towards use of mother tongue as medium of instruction;

4. familiarity to first sound of words; and

5. reading comprehension.

Moreover, additional information shall be gathered from classroom teachers which includes:

1. language used for classroom instruction;

2. availability of any reading materials at home;

3. teacher’s training; and

4. teacher’s attitudes towards multilingual teaching.

A total of PhP 3.0 million will be utilized on the survey that will run from April to June 2023. The results of the study are expected to be released in September 2023.

The survey was reviewed and cleared for conduct under the Statistical Survey Review and Clearance System (SSRCS), a mechanism being implemented by the PSA by virtue of Rule 28 of Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 10625 to:

1. ensure sound design for data collection;

2. minimize the burden placed upon respondents;

3. effect economy in statistical data collection;

4. eliminate unnecessary duplication of statistical data collection efforts; and

5. achieve better coordination of government statistical activities.

In line with this, the PSA enjoins all sampled elementary public schools, and classroom teachers to participate in the survey by providing the necessary information. We also appeal to the parents of the selected students to all their children to participate in the said activity.

For further information on SSRCS, please contact the Statistical Standards Division of the Standards Service with telephone numbers (02) 8376-1928 and (02) 8376-1931, and email address ssd.staff@psa.gov.ph.

DENNIS S. MAPA, Ph.D.
Undersecretary
National Statistician and Civil Registrar General

See more at the Statistical Survey Review and Clearance System (SSRCS) landing page.