Historical Development of Teacher Preparation and
Professionalization in the Philippines
Pre Hispanic Period
• Informal and Unstructured
Education
• No Structured Educational
System
• Tribal leaders, mothers and
fathers served as teachers.
Spanish Era
• Free public Schools were
established by virtue of
Educational Decree of 1863
• Educational Decree of 1863
provided for normal school run by
Jesuits to educate male teachers
in Manila.
• In 1875, Normal schools for
women teachers were
established.
• In 1765, a Royal Decree was
sent by King Charles of Spain
requiring each village to have a
"maestro".
• In 1772, another Royal Decree
specified the qualifications of
teachers.
• It was not until 1863, there was a
specific attempt to systematize
and update the education of
Filipino Teachers.
American Regime
• In 1901, the Philippine commission
enacted into law the Act 74, and
created the Department of Instruction
• Department of Instruction laid the
foundations of the public schools
system and offered free primary
education for Filipinos
• Due to shortage of teachers, the
Philippine Commission authorized the
Secretary of Public Instruction to
bring to the Philippines 600 teachers
from USA, which were Thomasites.
• Act of 74 of 1901 provided for the
establishment of Philippine Normal
School in Manila; and is an institution
for the training of teachers.
• In 1928, PNS became a junior
college offering two-year program to
graduates of secondary schools.
• In 1949, the PNS was then
renamed to Philippine Normal
College, and then offered the four-
year Bachelor of Science in
Elementary Education.
• Teacher preparation became four
years only in 1949 and thereafter.
1996
• The EDCOM report indicated that high
dropout rates especially in the rural
areas were significantly marked which
was probably caused by inadequacy of
preparation; it also revealed the
inadequacy of programs and the poor
access to special education (SPED)
brought about by the limited number of
special schools and SPED center in the
country; and it revealed also that the
disruptions in class schedules and
length of school year correlates with
less learning and less quality
• Creation of Commission on Higher
Education, and development of Hels
• Professionalization of teachers and
teaching through the creation of the
National Teachers Board under the
Regulatory Commission (PRC) which is
tasked with giving periodic tests as
prerequisite for licensing and
certification of teaching competencies.
• Creation of and clear career service
paths for promotions and career
planning for teachers and
administrators
• Improvement in teachers' welfare and
benefits Improvement and
strengthening of pre-service service
education