The Spaniards introduced formal education to the Philippines, which was mostly provided by religious orders.

They started teaching Christianity, the Spanish language, and Spanish culture after becoming familiar with the
regional tongues and writing systems. The earliest schools and universities were established by these religious
groups in the sixteenth century. After arriving on the islands, Spanish missionaries soon started schools. In
Cebu, the Augustinians established a Catholic school in 1565. In addition to teaching new agricultural and
industrial methods, the Franciscans began working on enhancing literacy in 1577. In Bataan, schools were
established by the Dominicans in 1587 and the Jesuits in 1581. To ensure that Christian villages had schools for
students to attend, the church and the school worked together.