STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3188

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.C.R. No. 120

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 120 entitled:

 

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘I AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP, OFFER, AND EXPAND PHILIPPINE LANGUAGE COURSES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to request the University of Hawaii and the Department of Education to develop, offer, and expand Philippine language courses.

 

     Comments on the measure were submitted by the University of Hawaii System and the Department of Education.

 

     Your Committee finds that since their initial immigration, the Filipino community has grown and continues to be prevalent in Hawaii.  However, despite their significant representation in the general population, including in our public schools, Filipinos are largely underrepresented in higher education, representing a small percentage of enrollment in the University of Hawaii System and a small percentage of individuals possessing postsecondary degrees.  Given their significance in Hawaii's demographic composition, the Filipino community must be supported to increase the representation of Filipino students and professionals trained in the Philippine languages who can work in the area of education, health, legal services, and commerce.  This measure requests the University of Hawaii and the Department of Education to develop, offer, and expand Philippine language courses.  Your Committee determines that the increased provision of courses in the Philippine languages will help to increase academic interest and student success.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 120 and recommends its adoption.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

 

 

 

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair