7 March 2019, Calgary –  Consul General Gilberto Asuque, accompanied by Deputy Consul General  Zaldy Patron, met with Alberta Education Minister David Eggen at his Edmonton Office on 1 March 2019.

 

Consul General Asuque expressed the Philippine Government’s appreciation to the Alberta Provincial Government for its recent announcement to introduce a Kindergarten to Grade 12 Filipino Language and Culture program to Alberta K-12 students beginning 2020. The Philippine Consulate General issued a public statement on 11 February welcoming this new initiative.   The curriculum will include the teaching of Tagalog, as an optional language course.

 

Consul General Asuque offered the assistance of the Philippine Government in the development of the 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.   

 

Minister Eggen 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.