Basic Education in the Philippines

Compulsory and funded by the national government

Basic education level, composed of kindergarten, elementary school (grades 1–6), junior high school (grades 7–10), and senior high school (grades 11–12)

The educational system is managed by three government agencies by level of education:

 ·         Department of Education (DepEd) for basic education

 ·         Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for higher education

 ·         Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for technical and vocational education

Private schools are generally free to determine their curriculum in accordance with existing laws and regulations

Institutions of higher education are classified as public or private

Public institutions are subdivided into state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local colleges and universities (LCUs)

History

 ·         Pre-colonial period 

o   Most children did not receive solely vocational training 

o   Children were supervised by parents, tribal tutors, or those assigned specialized roles in the community (e.g. babaylan) 

o   Knowledge was passed down through generations primarily via oral tradition 

o   This included stories, songs, poetry, dances, medicinal practices, advice on community life 

o   Some communities used a writing system called baybayin 

o   Other syllabaries were also utilized throughout the archipelago 

o   Education was not solely vocational, encompassing broader cultural knowledge and traditions 

·       

•  Spanish period 

o   Formal education in the Philippines was introduced by Spanish religious orders in the 16th century 

o   The Augustinians opened the first school in Cebu in 1565 

o   Other religious orders like the Franciscans, Jesuits, and Dominicans also established schools 

o   Schools taught Christianity, Spanish language, and Spanish culture 

o   The first university, Universidad de San Ignacio, was founded by Jesuits in Manila in 1589 

o   There were separate schools (colegios) for boys and girls (beaterios) 

o   The Spanish introduced printing presses and published books in Spanish, Tagalog, and Baybayin script 

o   The Educational Decree of 1863 provided a free public education system managed by the government 

o   Primary education was made free and available to all Filipinos 

o   By 1898, over 200,000 students were enrolled in Philippine schools at all levels 

o   The education system produced a group of Filipino intellectuals called Ilustrados 

o   Some non-Spanish schools were also founded, like the Academia de Dibujo y Pintura in 1823 Ff

•  First Republic

o   After the Spanish-American War defeat, the short-lived First Philippine Republic was established, leading to the Philippine Independence movement 

o   Schools maintained by Spain for over 300 years were briefly closed but reopened on August 29, 1898 by the Secretary of Interiors 

o   New educational institutions established included: 

­   Instituto Burgos (Burgos Institute) 

­   Academia Militar (the country's first military academy) 

­   Universidad de Literaria de Filipinas (Literary University of the Philippines) 

o   The Malolos Constitution mandated free and obligatory public education under the First Philippine Republic 

o   Progress was hindered by the Philippine-American War 

o   Colegio Filipino (now National University), established in the American-occupied zone, dates from this period and survived 

o   The Rosa Sevilla Memorial School, originally founded in 1900 as Instituto de Mujeres, was an early all-girls private school 

• ·   American period 

o   After securing Manila in 1899, the Americans opened schools with army teachers using army-selected books and supplies 

o   In 1901, a centralized public school system was established by the Philippine Commission through Act No. 74 

o   This law brought over 1,000 teachers from the U.S. (Thomasites) to establish barangay schools due to teacher shortages 

o   The Philippine Normal School was created to train Filipino teachers 

o   Several other laws were passed, including establishing the University of the Philippines in 1908 

o   High schools emerged in 1910 to meet demand for skilled workers, with a curriculum focused on job skills 

o   The Gabaldon Law in 1907 provided funds to construct school buildings to accommodate increasing enrollment 

o   The Monroe Survey Commission in 1925 initiated revisions to the curriculum, leading to K-12 implementation in 2012 

o   The Moro Province had a separate education department that expanded rapidly but disproportionately benefited Christians 

o   Education in Moro aimed to introduce American values, was primarily in English, and had low Muslim attendance 

o   The Moro department integrated into the national system by 1922 as part of the transition to independence 

o   The national curriculum under the Commonwealth served to cultivate a single national identity

 ·         Japanese period and Second Republic 

o   Education was used to indoctrinate the public with Japanese ideologies, leading to low enrollment rates 

o   The Japanese Military Administration's Order No. February 2, 17, 1942 had 6 points: 

­   Propagation of Filipino culture 

­   Dissemination of Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere principle 

­   Spiritual rejuvenation of Filipinos 

­   Teaching and propagation of Japanese language 

­   Diffusion of vocational and elementary education 

­   Promotion of love for labor 

o   Elementary, vocational, and regular schools reopened after initially closing due to the war 

o   Colleges for agriculture, medicine, fisheries, and engineering also resumed 

o   Law courses were not taught 

o   Textbook passages on American democracy were censored 

o   Reforms required teachers to obtain licenses and institution heads to get approval 

o   Teaching of Tagalog, Philippine history, and character education was reserved for Filipinos 

o   The Japanese created institutions like training institutes, cultural institutes, constabulary academies 

o   The Philippine Nautical School (now Merchant Marine Academy) remained operational with increased students 

o   St. Paul College of Makati was established during this period and still exists today

 ·         Third to Fifth Republic 

o   In 1947, after the Philippines gained independence from the U.S., the Department of Instruction was renamed the Department of Education 

o   The Philippine Community School program helped rebuild the public school system after WWII 

o   The transition to an American-style education system with 12 years of basic education was started but not completed 

o   Islamic schools began spreading in Mindanao after independence, creating a parallel system 

o   Under Marcos, the department became the Ministry of Education and Culture 

o   The Education Act of 1982 provided an integrated system and upgraded standards 

o   The 1987 Constitution defined fundamental education aims and made elementary school compulsory 

o   In 1988, the Free Public Secondary Education Act mandated free public high schools 

o   In 1994, the education system was "tri-focalized" into 3 agencies: 

­   Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for tertiary programs 

­   Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for vocational programs 

­   Department of Education for elementary/secondary education

 ·         Contemporary period 

o   In 2001, Republic Act 9155 (Governance of Basic Education Act) changed the department's name to Department of Education (DepEd) and redefined roles of field offices 

o   In 2009, DepEd signed an agreement with USAID for $86 million in assistance to education in Muslim Mindanao and other Mindanao regions 

o   In 2010, the 2010 Secondary Education Curriculum was implemented, focusing on teaching for understanding, until it was phased out in 2015 for the K-12 program 

o   In 2013, the Enhanced Basic Education Act was signed, mandating the K-12 curriculum (Kindergarten, 6 years elementary, 4 years junior high, 2 years senior high) 

o   K-12 implementation began in 2012, with Kindergarten becoming compulsory in 2011. The previous 10-year system was fully phased out by 2017 

o   In 2017, the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act mandated free tertiary education in state universities and colleges 

o   In 2021, the alternative learning system (ALS) was institutionalized by law 

o   In 2023, DepEd launched the "Matatag curriculum", a revised version of K-12 with reduced learning areas and emphasis on Filipino identity and nationalism, to be implemented from 2024-2028

 ·         Educational stages 

o   Formal education in the Philippines is hierarchically structured, progressing from primary school through university, including academic studies and vocational training programs 

o   Basic education is grouped into 4 key stages: kindergarten-grade 3, grades 4-6, grades 7-10, and grades 11-12 

o   The education system used from 1901-1945 (K-11) had elementary (4 years primary, 3 intermediate), secondary (4 years), and tertiary levels 

o   From 1945-2017, the K-10 system was used, with 1 year of pre-school, 6 years elementary, and 4 years secondary education 

o   The current K-12 system, implemented in 2012 after a 9-year transition, has: 

­   Kindergarten 

­   6 years elementary 

­   4 years junior high school 

­   2 years senior high school with specialization tracks 

o   The K-12 transition aimed to align the Philippine education system with global standards and allow more years for learning at the pre-university level.

 K–12 education 

·         K-12 education in the Philippines covers kindergarten and 12 years of primary and secondary education 

·         Education is compulsory and free in public schools 

·         Schooling is divided into: 

o   Pre-elementary (kindergarten) 

o   Primary education (elementary school, grades 1-6) 

o   Secondary education 

o   Junior high school (grades 7-10) 

o   Senior high school (grades 11-12) 

·         Primary education: 

o   Mother tongue used for instruction in early grades, transitioning to English/Filipino 

o   Core subjects: Math, Filipino, Araling Panlipunan (Social Studies), English, Science 

·         Secondary education: 

o   Junior high school has core subjects plus electives 

o   Senior high school has core curriculum plus specialization tracks: 

­   Academic (strands like ABM, HUMSS, STEM) 

­   Technical-Vocational-Livelihood 

­   Sports 

­   Arts and Design 

·         Special programs: 

o   Science high schools for gifted students 

o   Vocational schools focused on technical/vocational training 

o   Schools specializing in arts, foreign languages, etc.

Other types of schools 

·         Aside from general public schools, other types of schools exist: 

o   Private schools 

o   Preparatory schools 

o   International schools 

o   Laboratory high schools 

o   Science high schools 

o   Schools operated by foreign ethnic groups (Chinese, British, Singaporean, American, Korean, Japanese) 

·         Chinese Schools: 

o   Add Chinese communication arts and literature to core curriculum 

o   Some add Chinese history, philosophy, culture, and mathematics 

o   Cultural schools offer Confucian classics and Chinese art 

o   Religion plays an integral role (some founded by American evangelists, others Catholic roots) 

·         Islamic Schools: 

o   Department of Education adopted Arabic Language and Islamic Values in standard curriculum for Muslim children 

o   Authorized Standard Madrasa Curriculum (SMC) combining regular subjects and Arabic/Islamic studies 

o   Islamic schools have separate Arabic Language and Islamic Values subject 

o   Recognized Islamic schools have varying Islamic studies curriculum before SMC 

o   Since 2005, Australian aid project assisted private madaris implementing SMC 

School year and class hours 

·         Until 2020, the academic year in basic education centers ran from June to March, with a semestral break around late October (All Saints' Day) 

·         By law, the school year could begin as early as June or as late as August 

·         In 2020, due to COVID-19, the school year shifted to a shorter term from October 2020 to June 2021

 ·         In 2021-22, the calendar returned to the legal dates, starting in August 2021 to align with university calendars 

o   Major school breaks: 

­   Semestral break around late October to early November (All Saints' Day) 

­   Two-week break in late December (Christmas, New Year's, Rizal Day)

Other national school holidays: 

o   Independence Day, Ninoy Aquino Day, National Heroes' Day, Bonifacio Day 

o   Immaculate Conception, Chinese New Year, People Power Day 

o   Muslim holidays Eid'l Fitr and Eid'l Adha when applicable 

o   In 2021, Holy Week was added as a school holiday 

·         Students attend school for 5 days a week (Monday-Friday) 

·         Schools often have morning and afternoon shifts to manage overcrowding 

Uniforms

 ·         Filipino students at both public and private schools typically wear school uniforms designated by each school

 ·         Mandatory school uniforms at public schools were abolished in 2008 under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

 ·         Boys usually wear a collared shirt with pants/shorts, black leather shoes, and white socks

 ·         Girls usually wear a collared blouse, skirt/jumper dress, black shoes, and white socks

 ·         Uniform colors and designs vary by school but often match school colors and incorporate the school's logo/crest

 ·         Students also wear scout uniforms, PE uniforms, and NSTP uniforms on designated days

 ·         Schools may prohibit makeup, jewelry, or certain hairstyles