DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES FROM

PRE-SPANISH TO PRESENT TIMES

EDUCATION DURING THE PRE- SPANISH PERIOD

• Pre-Hispanic education in the Philippines was not formal

• Education was oral, practical, and hands-on
• The objective was basically to promote reverence for, and adoration of
Bathala, respect for laws, customs, and authorities represented by
parents and elders
• When the Spaniards arrived in the Philippines they encountered
islanders who knew how to read and write.

EDUCATION DURING THE SPANISH ERA

EDUCATIONAL AIM
The Royal decree of 1555 mandated these goals
of Spanish education in the country:
- Indoctrination of Christianity
- Promotion of the Spanish language
- Imposition of Spanish Culture
TEACHING METHODS
- Dictation
- Memorization
- Other techniques such as moro-moro, cenaculo and other theatrical
performances
TYPE OF EDUCATION
- Authoritarianism
- Teacher-dominated
- Subject centered
- Imposition of severe discipline

AGENCIES/CONTENT STUDIED:
- The education of the Filipino was focused mainly on the learning of the
Christian doctrine.
- It took three and half centuries before the Spanish gov’t. set up a school
system.
- The Augustinians, Franciscans, Dominicans, and Jesuits introduced the
parochial school concept practiced in Europe during the Dark Ages.
- Subjects other than Doctrina were arithmetic, music & various arts and
trades
- Training was done formally through the visitas w/c served as the first
schools.
 - Secondary schools established such as colegios for boys & beaterios for
girls.
a.) Colegio de San Ignacio by the Jesuits in 1589 in Manila was the first
colegio.
b.) The Dominicans put up the Colegio de Santo Rosario w/c later became
Colegio de Santo Tomas now the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas.
c.) The Beaterio de Santa Isabel was founded in 1632 and became the oldest
existing school for girls.
- Institutions established for higher learning to provide the church with
centers and the state w/ much needed judges and lawyers.
• OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS:
- Upliftment of the Philippine Education. The first educational system for
students in the country was established by the virtue of the Educational
Decree of 1863 w/c required the government to provide school
institutions for boys and girls in every town. First attempt of the
Spaniards to establish an overall public school system.
- Provision for training of teachers through a normal school attached to
Escuela Pia, now Ateneo de Manila University.
- Complete system of education
- Free system of education
- Reorganization of the school curriculum
- Government supervision and control of school thus breaking 3 century
church domination in education.
- Produced the first grammar and dictionaries that led to the development
of Filipino languages

EDUCATION DURING THE AMERICAN PERIOD

EDUCATIONAL AIM
- To promote democratic ideals and way of life
AGENCIES/ CONTENT STUDIED
- The defeat of Spain by American forces paved the way for Aguinaldo’s
Republic under a Revolutionary Government.
- The schools maintained by Spain for more than three centuries were
closed for the time being but were reopened on August 29, 1898 by the
Secretary of Interior.
- The Burgos Institute of Malolos, the Military Academy of Malolos and the
Literary University of the Philippines were established.
- A system of free and compulsory elementary education was established
by the Malolos Constitution.
- Training was done through the schools both public and secular manned
by Chaplains and military officers of the US army and the Thomasites
brought here by the vessel Thomas.
- The University of the Philippines was founded in 1908.
 - Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, good manners and right conduct (GMRC),
civics, hygiene and sanitation, gardening, domestic science, American
history, and Philippine history were the subjects for study.
- Philippine education during this period was highly influenced by the
Philosophy of John Dewey.
• OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS
- Religious freedom was enforced
- Development of the intelligence, right attitudes and habits of children
who were to become citizens of the future were emphasized.
- Democratic ideal as a philosophy was emphasized
• Legal Mandate
- The EDUCATIONAL ACT OF 1901, also known as ACT NO.74 of the Philippine
Commission, was promulgated to establish a Department of Public Instruction
to oversee the operation of public schools.
a.) Sections 1 to 13 of the Act were meant to establish a highly centralized
system.
b.) Section 14 to 15 provided for the importation of American teachers
(Thomasites). Section 16 provided for the separation of church and state.
c.) Section 17 crated the Philippine Normal School, now Philippine Normal
University (PNU).
- The Department of Public Instruction set up thee level school system.
The 1st level consisted of a four-year primary and a three-year
intermediate or seven-year elementary school. The 2 nd level was a four-
year high school. The 3rd level was at first a two-year junior college and
later a four-year program.
- In 1925, the Monroe Survey Commission, headed by Paul Monroe was
created to evaluate the entire school system the Americans set up, the
first of its kind in the country. Act No.3162 & 3196 made possible the
conduct of the Monroe survey and recommended the following:
a.) educational reforms regarding methods & techniques of teaching,
supervision, teaching training and curriculum
b.) evaluation of teaching and learning
- In 1927, there is the provision of English as a common language, by the
American Director of the Bureau of Education.

EDUCATION DURING THE COMMONWEALTH PERIOD (1935-1942)

• LEGAL MANDATE
• Executive Order No.17 of President Quezon promulgated the so-called
“Quezon Code of Ethics” which laid the foundation of the emerging
philosophy of Philippine education.
• Executive Order No.134 in 1936 of President Quezon designated
Tagalog as the basis of a national language.
 • Executive Order No.263 in 1940 required the teaching of the Filipino
national language in the senior year of all high schools and in all years in
the normal schools.
• The Education Act of 1940(C.A.586), approved by the Philippine
Assembly on August 7, 1940, provided for the following:
a) Reduction of the 7-year elementary course to 6 years
b) Fixing the school entrance at 7 years
c) National support for elementary education
d) Compulsory attendance of primary children enrolled in grade 1
e) Adoption of double-single sessions in the primary grade with one teacher
one class assignment of intermediate teachers.

EDUCATION DURING THE JAPANESE OCCUPATION (1943-1945)

Order No.2 of the Japanese Imperial Forces set-up the war-time educational
objectives in the country on February 17, 1942
• Education aimed at:
- Making the people understand the position of the Philippines as a member of
the East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.
- Eradication of the old idea of reliance upon western states particularly
the US and Great Britain.
- Fostering a new Filipino culture based on the consciousness of the
people as Orientals.
- Elevating the morals of the people giving up over-emphasis on
materialism.
- Diffusion of elementary education and promotion of vocational education.
- Striving for the diffusion of the Japanese language in the Philippines and
the termination of the use of the English language in schools, and
- Inspiring the people with the spirit to love labor.

AGENCIES/CONTENT STUDIED:
- Training was done formally through the schools, which gave more
emphasis on: vocational, technical and agriculture.
- Opening of vocational schools
- Establishment of agricultural schools and colleges
- Curricular content was centered on values rooted on love for labor;
emphasizing vocational education; spread the use of Nippongo, and
teaching physical education and singing Japanese songs.
• LEGAL MANDATE
Proclamation No.1
- Informed the people that sovereignty of the United States over the
Philippines was over and that Martial Law was to reign.

EDUCATION DURING THE REPUBLIC

(1945-1972)
July 4, 1946 – restoration of Philippine Independence.
Educational Aims
- Education aimed at the full realization of the democratic ideals and way of
life.
 The 1935 Constitution continued to be implemented during the entire
period.
 Philosophical Basis of Education (Per 1935 Constitution)
- All educational institutions are under the State
- State shall provide complete and adequate system of public education
- All schools shall aim to develop moral character, personal discipline,
civic conscience and vocational efficiency.
- Optional religious instruction
- State universities shall enjoy academic freedom
- State shall create scholarships
Legal Mandates
• The Board of Textbooks was created pursuant to R.A. 139, enacted on
June 14, 1947
• In 1947, by virtue of Executive Order No.94, the Department of
Instruction was changed to “Department of Education”.
• On June 15, 1954, the civil service eligibility of teachers was made
permanent pursuant to R.A. 1079.
• RA 1124-creation of National Board of Education (NBE) in 1954.
• A daily flag ceremony was made compulsory in all schools including the
singing of the National Anthem pursuant to R.A.1265, approved on June
11, 1955.
• In terms of curricular offerings in all schools, the life, the works, and
writings of Jose Rizal especially the Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo shall be included in all levels pursuant to R.A.1425
approved on June 12, 1956.
• Elementary education was nationalized and abolished matriculation fees
pursuant to R.A.4007
• The Magna Carta for Public School Teachers (R.A.4670) was enacted on
June 18, 1966.

EDUCATION DURING THE NEW SOCIETY (1972-1986)

 In 1972, the Department of Education became the “Department of

Education and Culture” by Proclamation 1081
 The fundamental aims of education in the 1973 Constitution are
- To foster love of country;
- Teach the duties of citizenship, and
- Develop moral character, self discipline, and scientific, technological and
vocational efficiency
AGENCIES/CONTENTS STUDIED:
- Curricular changes in elementary education
 - Focused on education
- Integration of values in all learning areas
- Emphasis on mastery learning
- Curricular changes in secondary education
- Increased in time allotment
- YDT and CAT introduced as new courses
- Elective offerings as part of the curriculum
Legal Mandates
• NCEE, as per PD 146 issued on March 9, 1973, required all senior high
school students to pass the NCEE as prerequisite for admission to any
post-secondary academic or professional degree program.
• In 1978, by PD No.1397 the Department of Education and Culture
became the Ministry of Education and Culture
• Tertiary honor students (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, cum
laude) are granted civil service eligibility, pursuant to PD 907 issued on
March 1976 starting school year 1972-1973.
• Department Order No.25s. 1974 (Bilingual Education Program)
• Teachers are considered professionals and teaching as a profession upon
passing the PBET as per PD 1006 issued on September 22, 1976
• Batas Pambansa Blg.232 (Education Act of 1982) entitled “ An Act
Providing for the Establishment and Maintenance of an Integrated
System of Education”, w/c covers both formal and non-formal education
at all levels.
• The Act provided for maintenance of “quality education” through:
- Voluntary accreditation for schools, colleges or university to upgrade
their standards
- Government financial assistance to private schools

EDUCATION DURING THE PRESENT PERIOD (1986-PRESENT)

 Educational System and Curricular Reforms

- Implementation of New Elementary School Curriculum (NESC)
Its features are:
a) Fewer learning areas, emphasis on mastery learning
b) Focused on the development of 3r’s and
c) Emphasis on the development of intellectual skills which as are
important as work skills
d) Focus on the development of humanism and Filipinism in all learning
areas
- Implementation of the New Secondary Education Curriculum (NSEC)
Its features are:
a) Student centered
b) Cognitive-affective manipulative based curiculum uses bilingual policy
c) Values education offered as separate subject area
d) Emphasis on Science and Technology
e) Critical thinking emphasized
• 1987 Constitution – Educational Provisions
- Complete, adequate and integrated systems of education
- Free public education in the elementary and high school levels
- Scholarship grants, student loan programs, subsidies and other
incentives
• 1987 Constitution fundamental aims of education
- Shall inculcate patriotism and nationalism
- Foster love of humanity
- Respect for human rights
- Appreciation of the role of the national heroes in the historical
development of the country
- Teach the rights and duties of citizenship
- Strengthen ethical and spiritual values
- Develop moral character and personal discipline
- Encourage critical creative thinking
- Broaden scientific and technological knowledge
- Promote vocational efficiency
• The Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM) report of 1991
recommended the division of DECS into three parts.
• On May 18, 1994, Congress passed Republic Act 7722, the Higher
Education Act of 1994
a) Creating Commission on Higher Education (CHED), which assumed the
functions of the Bureau of Higher Education and supervises tertiary
degree programs
• On August 25, 1994, Congress passed Republic Act 7796, the Technical
Education and Skills Development Act of 1994
a) Creating the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
(TESDA), w/c absorbed the Bureau of Technical-Vocational Education
plus the National Manpower and Youth Council, and supervises non-
degree technical-vocational programs.
-DECS retained responsibility for all elementary and secondary education.
• It also enacted into the establishment of Centers of Excellence in Teacher
Education in each region of the country (R.A. 7784) August 4, 1994, good
for a period of 5 years.
• THESE EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS HAPPENED DURING THE
TERM OF PRESIDENT FIDEL RAMOS.
 P.D. 1001 R.A. 7836 was signed into law on December 16, 1994 has
these important provisions
a) Creation of the Board for Professional Teachers composed of 5
commissioners under PRC.
b) Replacement of PBET by LET
c) Transfer of authority of administering LET from CSC and DECS to the
Board of Professional Teachers under PRC.
d) The formulation, adoption and promulgation of the Code of Ethical and
Professional Standards for Professional Teachers Pursuant to
paragraph(e), Article II of R.A. 7836.
 THE TRIFOCAL EDUCATION SYSTEM
- In August 2001, R.A. 9155 otherwise called the Governance of Basic
Education Act, was passed transforming the name of the Department of
Education, Culture and Sports(DECS) to the Department of Education
(DepEd) and redefining the role of field offices
- The goal of basic education is to provide the school age population and
young adults skills, knowledge, and values to become caring, self-reliant,
productive and patriotic citizens.
 Under President Noynoy Aquino
- Aquino’s 10-point basic education agenda
1) 12-year Basic Education Cycle
2) Universal pre-schooling for all.
3) Madaris education as a sub-system within the educational system
4) Technical vocational education as an alternative stream in high school
5) “Every child a reader” by grade 1
6) Science and Math proficiency
7) Assistance to private schools as essential partners in basic education
8) Medium of instruction rationalized
9) Quality textbooks
10) Covenant with the local governments to build more schools.