The Department of Education (DepEd) has released DepEd Order No. 20 s. 2025, introducing a major shift in the medium of instruction (MOI) for learners from Kindergarten to Grade 3, beginning School Year 2025–2026. Under this new policy, Filipino and English will serve as the primary languages of instruction, while the use of the mother tongue becomes optional, a significant change from the previous mandate under the MTB-MLE policy. This reform aims to improve literacy and learning outcomes by focusing on more accessible and academically aligned languages.
What is DepEd Order No. 20 s. 2025?
DepEd released this order to guide how teachers use language in Kinder to Grade 3. Starting School Year 2025–2026, teachers will mainly use Filipino and English when teaching. Schools can still use the mother tongue in special cases, like when all students speak the same language. The goal is to help students learn better by using languages they can understand and succeed in as they grow.
In the original and unrevised K–12 program, early grade levels were encouraged to use the learner’s first language as the primary medium of instruction. Additionally, the curriculum introduced a subject called Mother Tongue, which focused on regional dialects. This policy was based on research suggesting that learners better understand lessons when taught in the language they are most familiar with.
However, in the revised Matatag Curriculum, this subject has been completely removed. As a result, the Department of Education released DepEd Order No. 20, s. 2024, to clarify the official policy on the medium of instruction. To be clear, the department has directed the use of Filipino and English as the primary languages of instruction, but the use of the Mother Tongue is not entirely discouraged. Mother Tongue is now optional but still allowed in monolingual classes that meet DepEd and KWF criteria.
Why This Change?
DepEd made this policy shift to fix several issues found in the old system. While the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) aimed to help learners by using their first language, many schools struggled to implement it properly. There was a lack of trained teachers, insufficient learning materials, and limited support for less common languages. As a result, students didn’t always get the quality instruction they needed.
In Republic Act No. 12027, the mother tongue was made optional, not mandatory, in Kindergarten to Grade 3. The law allows schools to use it only in monolingual classes that meet DepEd’s readiness criteria. Most importantly, research shows that students learn better when they understand the language being used. By focusing on Filipino and English, these languages are used more often in daily life and later education. DepEd hopes to build stronger reading and comprehension skills early on. This change supports smoother learning progress and prepares learners for subjects taught in higher grade levels.
DepEd Order No. 20 s. 2025
For educators, school administrators, and stakeholders who want to review the official guidelines in full, you can access the original copy of DepEd Order No. 20, s. 2025 below. This document outlines the updated policy on the Medium of Instruction (MOI) for Kindergarten to Grade 3.
DO_s2025_020r_8Conclusion / Final Thoughts
DepEd’s new language policy reflects its commitment to inclusive and learner-centered education. By allowing more flexible use of Filipino, English, and the mother tongue, schools can better meet the diverse needs of learners across the country. This shift ensures that no child is left behind because of language barriers.
The full implementation of DepEd Order No. 20, s. 2025 will begin in School Year 2025–2026. As teachers and schools prepare, it’s important to focus on building understanding, using the right teaching strategies, and creating a classroom where all learners can thrive, regardless of the language they speak at home.