PH Consulate General in Calgary Thanks Alberta Education Minister for Plan to Introduce Filipino Language, Culture Program

Consul General to Calgary Gilberto Asuque (right) and Deputy Consul General Zaldy Patron (left), during the meeting with Alberta Education Minister David Eggen at his Edmonton Office on 01 March 2019. (Calgary PCG photo)

CALGARY 12 March 2019 — Consul General to Calgary Gilberto Asuque, accompanied by Deputy Consul General Zaldy Patron, met with Alberta Education Minister David Eggen at his Edmonton Office on 01 March 2019.

Consul General Asuque expressed the Philippine Government’s appreciation to the provincial government of Alberta for its recent announcement to introduce a Kindergarten to Grade 12 Filipino Language and Culture program to Alberta K-12 students beginning 2020.  The curriculum will include the teaching of Tagalog as an optional language course.

The Consul General offered the assistance of the Philippine government in the development of a Filipino language and culture program should the Alberta Ministry of Education require experts who can train Alberta teachers about Filipino language, culture, arts and history.

Minister Eggen shared that consultations would begin soon on the development of the Filipino program, and it is hoped that the final program will be rolled out in time for the 2020-2021 school year. He stressed that providing learning opportunities for Filipino students on language and culture would enable them to maintain their heritage, strengthen their cultural identity, and build language and literacy skills.  

The Minister encouraged the Filipino community in Alberta to start engaging the school boards in districts where there are large Filipino communities concerning the introduction of the Filipino curriculum in their areas. END

For more information, visit www.calgarypcg.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinCalgary/.