The Evolution of Philippine Philosophy of

Education –Dr. MICHAEL CABILES

A History of the System of Education in the Philippines

In ancient Philippines, children were given the rudiments of

education. Such education was both academic and vocation.

The father trained his

sons to be warriors,
hunters, fishermen,
miners, lumbermen and
ship builders. The mother
on her part trained her
daughters in cooking,
gardening, serving and
other household arts.
 A History of the System of Education in the Philippines

It is said that in ancient Panay, there was a barangay school called

Bothoan under the charge of the teacher usually an old man.

The subjects taught to the

children in this barangay
school were reading,
writing, arithmetic, use of
weapons and lubus
(acquiring kinaadman or
amulets).
 A History of the System of Education in the Philippines

Hence, education during that time was geared toward their needs.
Because of colonization by several foreign countries and several
historical events, our education underwent several changes
although we also retained some of the ancient teachings which
are practical even during our time.
 Speed Quiz

7. In what Philippine island we can find a

barangay school called Bothoan ?
A History of the System of Education in the Philippines

With the coming of the Spaniards, the European system of

education was introduced to the archipelago. Primary
schools, colleges and universities were established in our
country by the missionaries.
 Spanish Period
The principal aim of Spain in the Philippines during their regime
was to make the native Filipinos obedient and God-fearing
Christians. For this reason, religion was a compulsory subject at
all levels – from the primary schools to the universities.
 Spanish Period

Later on, colleges for boys and girls were opened by the
missionaries. These colleges were the equivalent of our high
schools today. The subjects taught to the students included
history, Latin, geography, mathematics and philosophy.
 Spanish Period

There was no co-education during the Spanish times. Boys and

girls studied in separate schools.
 Spanish Period

University education was started

in the Philippines during the early
part of the 17th century.
Originally, the colleges and
universities were open only to the
Spaniards and those with
Spanish blood (mestizos). It was
only during the 19th century that
these universities began
accepting native Filipinos.
 Spanish Period

Higher education in the

Philippines began with the
establishment of the
University of Santo Tomas
(UST) in 1611. With the
founding of UST, it can be
claimed that private higher
education in the country
preceded the state higher-
education system, which
only commenced with the
arrival of the Americans in
1898.
 Spanish Period

Besides UST, other private Catholic higher-education

institutions were established before the arrival of the
Americans: the University of San Carlos (USC),
located in Cebu, which was originally founded as the
Colegio-Seminario de San Ildefonso in 1595 by the
Jesuits Antonio Sedeño, Pedro Chirino and Antonio
Pereira;

the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, founded in 1804,

which eventually became the Ateneo de Manila
University in 1959;
 Spanish Period

the Colegio de San Juan de Letran, also located in

Manila, was founded in 1620;

the Colegio de Santa Isabel, founded by the

Daughters of Charity in 1632 in Naga, Camarines Sur;

the Colegio de Santa Catalina, founded by the

Dominican Sisters in 1696;

and the Superior Normal School for Women

Teachers, founded by the Religious Community of the
Assumption in 1893.
 Spanish Period

It is interesting to note that for nearly 300 years,

education in the Philippines was the primary
responsibility of the Catholic Church. The missionaries
established the schools, provided the teachers and
facilities and decided what should be taught..

It was only in the last half of the 19th century that

the government took an active part in promoting
education in the colony.
 Speed Quiz

8. The UST was established in what year?

9. Who established the colleges and universities

during the Spanish period?

10. What subject was compulsory at all levels?

11. What was the term given to the Christianized

natives in the Philippines?
Education under the Americans

The United States had a different approach dictated

by what the Americans considered to be their principal
goal in coming to the Philippines:

“to educate and to train in the science

of self-government.”
Education under the Americans

unlike the Spaniards who neglected to propagate their

language, the Americans made it a point to teach
English to the Filipinos. The American soldiers were
the first teachers of the Filipinos.
Education under the Americans

In January 1901, free primary education was provided

and a school for Filipino teachers was established. It
called for the recruitment of trained teachers in
America. It abolished compulsory religious instruction.

The Americans gave bright young Filipino students

opportunity to take up higher education in
American colleges and universities.

These Filipinos came to be known as “pensionados”

for their education in the United States was financed
by the government in the Philippines.
Education under the Americans

Hundreds of Filipino pensionados were able to study

in the US until 1928. From the ranks of these
pensionados came the future civic, business and
political leaders of our country.
Education under the Americans

With the American investiture, existing Catholic

educational institutions owned and operated by
religious congregations expanded in various parts of
the country.

New Catholic religious congregations established

additional educational institutions, among which the
following: De La Salle Brothers,
Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
Augustinian Sisters,
Order of St. Benedict,
Education under the Americans

Benedictine Fathers,
Maryknoll Sisters,
Missionary Canonesses of St. Augustine,
Missionary Sisters of the Holy Spirit,
Society of Divine International Institute Word,
Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate,
St. Paul Sisters,
Marist Brothers, Sacred Heart Brothers, Salesian
Fathers and the Vicentian Fathers.
In addition, the new Catholic Filipino congregation –
the Religious of Virgin Mary (RVM) – was established
with a large chain of schools,
Education under the Americans

Besides the expansion of Catholic-sponsored

educational institutions, the arrival of the Americans in
1898 signaled the establishment of state higher-
education institutions.
These consisted of:

the University of the Philippines (UP), founded in 1908

as the first state university that offered various
professional programmes;

The Philippine Normal University and various normal

schools throughout the archipelago which were
established to meet the need for qualified teachers.
Education under the Americans

The Technological University of the Philippines (then called

the Philippine School of Arts and Trades) and the chain of
arts and trades schools throughout the country were
created to cater for the demand for technical skills in the
industrial development process
Education under the Americans

and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (then

called the Philippine College of Commerce) was
established to focus on the need for support staff in
business and industry.
Education under the Americans

In 1941, with the outbreak of the

World War II and for more than three
years of the Japanese occupation of
the country, there was no attempt by
the Japanese government to foster
the growth of educational
institutions. Instead, they wrecked
the towns and cities, including
educational establishments. They
stampeded into schools, colleges
and universities as soon as
hostilities ended on September 2,
1945.
 -stop depending on US and Great Britain
-vocational education, technical and
agricultural; love for labor or work;
-adopt the Nippongo language as a
medium of instruction

Thus, both physically and morally, the nation was

prostrate after the Japanese regime. To rebuild the
economy and restore educational institutions, Filipinos
sought and received United States assistance. The
contribution of Filipino private educators also began
establishing new private universities and colleges
 Speed Quiz

12. The UP was established in what year?

13. What was the first name of WMSU?

14. When was the outbreak of World War II?

15. What was the first name of PUP?

The Return of America and The
Independent Philippines
Article XIV, Section 5

“The Government shall

provide and maintain a
complete and adequate
system of public education
and shall provide at least
free public primary
instruction and citizenship
training to adult citizens”
 Pres. Marcos
said:
“true progress is not and should not be confined
to the satisfaction of the material needs of
man. It must extend to the development of his
mind as well as the fulfillment of his spirit. It
must fill him with knowledge and wisdom and
it must enrich the quality of human life.”

“educate our children, our men

and women, and ourselves.”
Pre-Hispanic Period
TRIBAL TUTORS
-education was informal and
unstructured
-children were provided with
vocational training and less
academics by parents and houses
of tribal tutors
FILIPINIZATION OF INSTRUCTION
- free public school system
- assignment of Filipino secretary for
department of Instruction
SPANISH MISSIONARIES
- education was “religion-centered”
- education for the elite only
- Spanish is compulsory
- Boys and girls school are
separated
- Inadequate, suppressed and
controlled
“THOMASITES”
-American teachers
- free and compulsory elementary
- English is the medium of
instruction
- 600 teachers from USA taught in
Philippines
JAPANESE EDUCATIONAL POLICIES
- creation of ministry of education
- teaching of Tagalog, Phil. History and
Character Education

TRIFOCAL EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

- DECS (Elementary and High School)
- CHED – Higher Education
- TESDA – Technology Based
Education
Other highlights in Higher Education

(1955) R.A. 1265 – Making flag ceremony

compulsory in all educational institutions

(1956) R.A. 1425 or Rizal Law - Directs all public and private
schools, colleges, and universities to include in their curricula
courses or subjects on the life, works, and writings of Dr.
Jose Rizal.

(1966) R.A. 4670 – Magna Carta for Public School Teachers

(1975) PD no. 146 – NCEE (National College Entrance

Examination) was first administered.

(1976) PD no.1006 - Professionalization of teachers and

teaching.
Other highlights in Higher Education

(1978) MECS ORDER no. 22 - Use of Filipino in school,

colleges, and universities in teaching Philippine History,
Government and Constitution, Rizal’s Life and Works,
Sociology, Land Reform and taxation, P.E., Home
Economics, Nutrition, Practical Arts, General Psychology,
and Ethics.
(1988) R.A. 6655 - Free public secondary education and for
other purposes
(1989) R.A. 6728 - New Secondary Education Curriculum
was launched.
(1994) R.A. no. 7731 - Abolished the National College Entrance
Examination (NCEE) required of all high school graduates seeking
admission into a minimum four-year college program as mandated by
P.D. 146.
Other highlights in Higher Education

(2000) Adopt-a-School Program was launched.

(2003) Brigada Eskwela started.

(2010) R.A. no 9163 - National Service Training Program Act

(2013) R.A. no 10533 - Enhanced Basic Education Act

Short History of CHED

The CHED was established on May 18, 1994

through Republic Act No. 7722 or the Higher
Education Act of 1994 which was authored by
Senator Francisco Tatad.
 The creation of CHED was part of a broad agenda
of reforms on the country’s education system
outlined by the Congressional Commission on
Education (EDCOM) in 1992. Part of the reforms
was the trifocalization of the education sector into
three governing bodies:

the CHED for tertiary and graduate education, the

Department of Education (DepEd) for basic
education and the Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA) for technical-
vocational and middle-level education.
CHED, an attached agency to the Office of the
President for administrative purposes, is headed by
a chairman and four commissioners, each having a
term of office of four years. The Commission En
Banc acts as a collegial body in formulating plans,
policies and strategies relating to higher education
and the operation of CHED.
Higher Education: Its Meaning,
Importance and Roles for National
Development
Higher Education - education beyond the
secondary level; especially : education provided
by a college or university

education at a college or university where subjects

are studied at an advanced level

a.k.a. post-secondary education, or third level

education is an optional final stage of formal
learning that occurs after completion of secondary
education.
is also available through certain college-level
institutions, including vocational schools, trade
schools, and other career colleges that award
academic degrees or professional certifications.

Higher education includes teaching, research,

exacting applied work (e.g. in medical schools and
dental schools), and social services activities of
universities.
 Importance and Roles for National Development

"Without higher education basic education cannot

progress...” – Dr. Bikas C. Sanyal

1. Higher education is at the top of the education pyramid

and determines to a large extent the state of the education
system of the country. As such it has a responsibility
towards the whole education system and therefore towards
basic education.

2. Institutions of higher education cannot isolate themselves

from surrounding social problems and therefore they have
to be linked to other sectors of the society
 Importance and Roles for National Development

3. Higher education is crucial for social and human

development and therefore such linkages must be
established by promoting basic education. Massive illiteracy
in many developing countries is making the role of higher
education more challenging.

4. The system of higher education is the reservoir of the

best equipped human resources and physical resources in
any country having an obligation to help develop other
levels of education including basic education
 3 essential programs for national
development:

1. Research - creation and preservation of knowledge

2. Instruction and training - dissemination of knowledge.

3. Community Service - application of knowledge to serve

the community.
“the government is currently pursuing important reforms to
make the country’s higher education system more
responsive to the country’s development requirements..”

According to Dr. Patricia B. Licuanan, CHED Chairperson

These reforms include:

1. rationalizing higher education through measures such

as a moratorium on new colleges and universities.
2. improving quality and standards by phasing out and
closing substandard programs.
3. complying with international standards, as well as
developing research and development centers and
world-class universities.
“CHED is also developing student financial assistance programs
as well as poverty alleviation scholarships for poor but deserving
students to promote greater social equity in the country,”
– Dr. Licuanan.

For the Philippines to grow faster and achieve continued

technological deepening, two main priorities are evident for
higher education:

1. Address skills gap by maintaining coverage and

improving the quality of higher education graduates, and;
2. Increase research relevant to economic needs in
universities or departments.
Given its challenges and constraints, the Philippine Government
can use the following policy levers to address these priorities:

1. Improve the use and allocation of public resources (more

focus on STEM and equity; move from historically
negotiated budgets to performance-based allocation);
2. Complete the process of granting autonomy to
universities (with particular focus on staffing and finance)
and strengthen the role and functions of university boards;
3. Improve the quality of private higher education through
better information; and
4. Encourage selected university-industry linkages to
improve curriculum relevance, support entrepreneurship,
and help with technological upgrading (build on the positive
examples of some existing university partnerships with firms
in skills delivery).
END
Sources:

Arcelo, A.A. 1998. CHED Graduate Tracer Study. Manila: Commission

on Higher Education and the Fund for Assistance to Private
Education.

Commission on Higher Education (CHED). 1997. CHED Statistical

Bulletin [Philippines]: school year 1996-97. Pasig City, Philippines:
CHED.

Department of Education, Culture and Sports. 1992. Manual of

Regulations for Private Schools. Manila: Fund for Assistance to
Private Education.

Johanson, R.K. 1999. Philippine education for the 21st century: higher
education in the Philippines. Technical Paper No. 3. Manila: Asian
Development Bank; World Bank.

http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2012/03/01/reforms-in-higher-
education-key-to-growth-and-competitiveness

http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/files/53754/11840806825Sanyal.pdf/Sanyal.pdf