By Emmanuel T. Erediano
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
GOVERNOR David M. Apatang last week vetoed Senate Bill 24-4, which would have required high and middle school students to attend Chamorro and Carolinian language classes for one year.
Authored by Sen. Manny Gregory T. Castro, S.B. 24-4 proposed that the Public School System hire teachers for Chamorro and Carolinian languages and make completion of the courses a prerequisite for high school graduation. The bill aimed to address issues related to PSS’s Chamorro and Carolinian language requirements, school personnel, and salary parity for teachers holding Chamorro and/or Carolinian bilingual language and culture certificates.
In his veto message, however, the governor cited the attorney general’s advice that the bill conflicts with Article XV, Section 1(b) of the NMI Constitution, which gives the Board of Education the authority to formulate policy and exercise control over the public school system. He noted that a similar bill had been shelved for the same reason.
“I must therefore regrettably veto this bill,” he said.
The governor also emphasized that he strongly supports the objective of providing robust education in the community’s indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian languages, supporting teacher training, and facilitating the preservation and transmission of traditional culture.
Nonetheless, he encouraged the Board of Education and PSS to consider voluntarily implementing similar robust programs for Chamorro and Carolinian language education, consistent with the CNMI Constitution, which mandates that PSS recognize the distinct cultural heritage and indigenous way of life of the people, provide for their language needs, and preserve their cultural integrity within a global community.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
