The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) granted clearance for the conduct of the Language of Instruction Transition in Education Systems (LITES) Survey in the Provinces of Cebu and Negros Oriental by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). Said activity is in cooperation with the University of Notre Dame and the United State Agency International Development. The actual data collection will be commissioned out to a third-party organization to be determined through a public bidding being conducted by the 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. The study also aims to examine the role of difference language and reading sub-skills in predicting reading comprehension. Lastly, this aims to analyze the pathways shaping the first language and reading comprehension influencing the linguistic characteristics of individual learners.

Specifically, the target respondents of the study are grade 3 and 4 pupils from public schools who use Sinugbuanong Binisaya in the provinces of Cebu and Negros Oriental. The study will involve 300 Grade 3 students, 300 Grade 4 students and 60 classroom teachers.

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

   a. demographic characteristics of students and teachers;
   b. language commonly used at home;
   c. behavior towards use of mother tongue as medium of instruction;
   d. familiarity to first sound of words; and
   e. reading comprehension.

Moreover, additional information shall be gathered from classroom teachers which includes:
   a. language used for classroom instruction;
   b. availability of any reading materials at home;
   c. teacher’s training; and
   d. teacher’s attitudes towards multilingual teaching.

A total of PhP 3.0 million will be utilized on the survey that will run from November 2023 to January 2024. The results of the study are expected to be released in June 2024.

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:

   a. ensure sound design for data collection;
   b. minimize the burden placed upon respondents;
   c. effect economy in statistical data collection;
   d. eliminate unnecessary duplication of statistical data collection efforts; and 
   e. 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 truthful information. We also appeal to the parents of the selected students to all their children to participate in the study.

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.

CLAIRE DENNIS S. MAPA, PhD
Undersecretary
National Statistician and Civil Registrar General


See more at Statistical Survey Review and Clearance System landing page.