Understanding

Culture Society
and Politics
LESSON
BRIEF OVERVIEW OF EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES
What is education? Why there’s a need for education? Let’s examine the brief
overview of education in our country.

For the layman, education is equated with schooling and a change for the
better. It is viewed as a process which child undergoes for certain periods in their life
span to prepare them for life itself.

To the biologist, education is a way of adaptation; to the psychologist, it is a

teaching learning process; to the economist, it is an investment; to the traditional
philosopher, it is the transmission of knowledge for the maintenance of social order.

The ultimate goal of education is the effective participation of the individual in

the total process of social interaction in its society. This interpersonal relation may be
the improvement of basic knowledge, intellectual and manual skills, power of reason
and criticism, acquisition of desirable values and attitudes and motivations, the power
of creativity and innovation, cultural appreciation, a sense of responsibility and
understanding of the modern world.

CURRENT EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

Education in the Philippines is managed and regulated by the Department of
Education, commonly referred to as (DepEd). It controls the creation and
implementation of the curriculum, utilization of funds allotted by the central
government.

DepEd also manages the construction of schools, acquisition of books and other
school materials and recruitment of teachers and staff.

Before the Philippines attained independence in 1946, the country’s education

system was patterned after the educational systems of Spain and United States of
America, both colonized and governed the Philippines for a long time.

From 1945 until 2011, the basic education is composed of six years of
elementary education and four years of high school education. Further education was
provided by technical or vocational schools and colleges and universities.

In 2011, the country started the transition from its 10-year basic educational
system to K-12 educational system. The new 12-year system is now compulsory, along
with the adoption of new curriculum for all schools.

In 2013, the Philippine government initiated the extension of the country’s

basic education cycle from ten to twelve years – a major reform that former Education
Secretary Armin Luistro has called “the most comprehensive basic education reform
initiative ever done in the country since the establishment of the public education
system more than a century ago”.

All public schools in the Philippines must start classes on the date mandated
by the Department of Education. Since we are in times of pandemic, classes that
should start on the first Monday of June in the public schools, second Monday for
private schools has been moved to August, and from August to October for some
modifications due to this Covid-19 pandemic. The number of school days must
complete the mandated 200-day school calendar prepared by the educational agency.
Private schools are not obliged to abide by a specific date, but must open classes no
later than the last week of August.

Today, the government of the Philippines has been very active in tapping the
educational system for the country’s development efforts. With the adoption of K-12
program, it is the hoped that Philippine Educational System is now responding to the
demands of the economy for national development.

The economic, political, social, and religious values of the society are being
reflected by the kind of educational system. For a long period of time, education in the
Philippines was patterned after the Spanish and American system due to colonization
and influences. These systems helped instill Spanish and American values in our
people as well as their culture and ideologies.

TIMELINE OF PHILIPPINE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

SPANISH AMERICA COMMON JAPANESE NEW PRESENT
PERIOD N PERIOD WEALTH PERIOD SOCIETY PERIOD
1521 1898 PERIOD 1941 1986 2013
1936
• Religious American •Promote • Diffusion •A relevant The K-12
Congregati teachers effective of the and flexible program
ons built infused participatio Japanese curriculum offers a
schools • their n of the language •Productive decongeste
Christian students citizens in in the - d 12-year
doctrines • the spirit of the Philippines coordinate program
Promotion democracy processes • d that gives
of Spanish and of a Promotion technocrat students
language • progress as democratic of •A quality sufficient
Imposition well as fair society Vocational teacher time to
of Spanish play. •Vocational course with master
culture and adult • Inspire effective skills and
education people with methods of absorb
were given the spirit of teaching. basic
emphasis. love and competenci
labor es.

EDUCATION UNDER THE SPANISH REGIME

Education in the Philippines during the Spanish era was not open to all Filipino
citizens. The Spanish government had absolutely no intention of training the people
for eventual independence and self-rule.

During this period, some schools were exclusively established for the education
of some Spanish nationals in the archipelago. They were open only to the people who
belonged to the upper social and economic class of society.
 Parochial and religious schools were founded and the main function of
education is to inculcate moral and religious values. Religion was the core curriculum
and the schools were used to spread Christianity. Going to church is compulsory for
all students.

The parish priest supervised the schools as part of his duties. Reading by
alphabet and syllable method, sacred songs and music are included in the course of
study, but arithmetic and writing were also taught for advanced students.

It’s true that education was mostly religion-oriented and controlled by the
Catholic Church. Spanish friars and missionaries educated the natives through
religion with the aim of converting indigenous populations to the Catholic faith. The
Augustinians opened a school immediately upon arrival in Cebu in 1565. Followed by
the Franciscans in 1577, and they, too, immediately taught the people important
industrial and agricultural techniques. The Jesuits who arrived in 1581 also
concentrated on teaching the young and the Dominicans arrived in 1587, they did the
same thing.

Agriculture was compulsory for the boys and the girls were trained for the
needlework. Vocational schools, schools of arts and trades, nautical schools and
normal schools were available.

On April 28, 1611, the Universidad de Santo Tomas was founded in Manila,
initially named as the Colegio de Nuestra Senora del Santisimo Rosario and later
renamed as Colegio de Santo Tomas, which is considered as the oldest university in
Asia. Followed by Universidad de San Carlos, Ateneo Municipal de Manila and Colegio
de San Juan de Letran to name a few.

Other schools and colleges for girls were Colegio de Sta. Isabel, Sta. Catalina,
Santa Rosa, La Concordia etc.

In entirety, education during the Spanish regime was privileged only to Spanish
students. The supposed Philippine education was only a means to remain colonizers.
Meanwhile, several educated Filipinos referred to as Ilustrados may consider one of
the major effects of education in the Philippines.

EDUCATION UNDER THE AMERICAN REGIME

When the Americans came, education was focused on the development of new
social patterns that would prepare the nation for a self-governing democracy.

English was the medium of instruction and private schools were allowed. Public
institution was institutionalized to give every person the education needed to
participate in a self-governing democracy.

The primary level curriculum consisted of English, Arithmetic, Geography,

singing, drawing, physical education and character training. Grammar and social
studies were included in the intermediate level.

Americans believed that education should be for all and that the primary
purpose of education was to prepare the individual for present-day living.
 Schools like Philippine Normal University, National University, Far Eastern
University, St. Paul University and even Rizal High School in Pasig, one of the largest
high school in the world (1993 Guinness Book of World Records until 2005) are schools
founded during the American rule.

Many elementary and secondary schools from the Spanish era were recycled
and new ones were opened in cities and provinces, among which there were normal,
vocational, agricultural, and business schools. Among the most important colleges
during United States rule were: Philippine Normal School in 1901( Philippine Normal
University) and other normal schools throughout the country such as Silliman
University (1901), Central Philippine University (1905), Negros Oriental High School
(1902),St. Paul University Dumaguete (1904), Cebu Normal School (1915) also a
university at present, Filamer Christian University (1904), Iloilo Normal School in
1902 (now West Visayas State University) and Zamboanga Normal School in 1904
(now Western Mindanao State University); National University (1901); University of
Manila (1914); Philippine Women's University (1919); and Far Eastern University
(1933). Examples of vocational schools are: the Philippine Nautical School, Philippine
School of Arts and Trades (1901, now Technological University of the Philippines) and
the Central Luzon Agriculture School. The University of the Philippines was also
founded in 1908.

Democracy as a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in

the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected delegates or
representatives under a free electoral system was one of the greatest legacies the
Americans injected in the educational system.

Through education, the Filipinos learned the principles of equality of men and
human worth and dignity. They were trained to earn their own living and become
useful citizens in a democratic society.

Activity 1.
Directions: Complete the statements by supplying the missing words. Write your
answer in the blank.

1. Education in the Philippines is managed and regulated by the _________________ .

2. Many elementary and secondary schools from the Spanish era were ____________
and new ones were opened in cities and provinces during the American rule.
3. Several educated Filipinos referred to as _______________ may considered one of the
major effects of education in the Philippines during the Spanish regime.
4. When the Americans came, education was focused on the development of new social
patterns that would prepare the nation for a ______________________________ .
5. The ___________, ____________, ___________, and religious values of the society are
being reflected by the kind of educational system.

Activity 2.
Directions: Enumerate the five schools/universities founded in Spanish era and
another five during the American regime.
Spanish Regime
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
American Rule
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

ACTIVITY 3:
Colonization instills Spanish and American values of the Filipino people as well as
their culture and ideologies. Make a table for each country that shows the influences
of these two countries in terms of patterned manners, traits and values that was
evidently seen in our society that affect the lives of every Filipinos. 1-5 for each
country.
SPAIN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.
4. 4.
5. 5.

ASSESSMENT
Directions: Identify what is being asked in the following statements. Encircle the
letter of the correct answer. Write your answer in the space provided. (5 points)

______ 1. What school considered one of the largest high school in the world founded
during the American rule.
A. Cebu Normal School C. Rizal High School
B. La Concordia D. Zamboanga Normal School

______ 2. What group of missionaries arrived in 1577 that immediately taught the
natives important industrial and agricultural techniques?
A. Augustinians C. Franciscans
B. Dominicans D. Jesuits

______ 3. Who believed that education should be for all and that the primary purpose
of education was to prepare the individual for present-day living?
A. Americans C. Japanese
B. Britons D. Spaniards
______ 4. It is the transmission of knowledge for the maintenance of social order was
the definition of education given by what group of people?
A. Biologist C. Psychologist
B. Economist D. Traditional Philosopher

______ 5. The main function of education in this regime is to inculcate moral and
religious values.
A. Americans C. British
B. Spanish D. Japanese