The Pamantasan ng Cabuyao in Laguna has declared itself an English-speaking campus, enforcing an English-only policy across all classes, transactions, and official interactions starting February 3, 2025.
The university said the move aligns with its vision of fostering academic excellence and preparing students for global opportunities. The policy applies to students, faculty, and staff, with the administration urging strict compliance.
However, the announcement sparked backlash on social media, accumulating over 33,000 laugh reactions. Critics, including students and educators, labeled the policy as regressive.
Education student Marcuz Red Tevez argued that prioritizing English over Filipino could hinder effective communication. His comment, emphasizing the importance of mastering the native language first, gained around 1,300 reactions.
University of the Philippines Assistant Professor Jose Monfred Sy also weighed in, questioning the decision in light of linguistic research supporting mother tongue-based education. He pointed out that many countries succeed by prioritizing their own languages rather than conforming to English.
Despite the pushback, the university has yet to issue a response to the criticism.
