Development of Education in the Philippines from Pre-Spanish to Present times

Pre-Hispanic Era
The Philippine education during pre-Hispanic era has no formal schools. Learning started
at home. People were taught of oral and practical lessons. According to my research, the aim was
to promote reverence for Bathala and respect for laws, customs and authorities represented by their
elders and parents.
Spanish Era
When Spaniards came in the Philippines, they began to establish schools in the country led
by the friars. They were catechizing to the families and natives about Christianity particularly
Catholicism. Based on historical records, education was privileged only to Spanish students but in
19th century it was opened for the natives. According to Educational decree of 1863: It is required
to establish one primary school for girls and one for boys in each major town of the country. And
during that time, Spanish language was the medium of medium of instruction in all schools. It was
not easy to achieve a good educational system, there were problems regarding a system of
education such as limited and irrelevant curriculum, lack of trained teachers, obsolete teaching
methods, poor classroom facilities, inadequate instructional materials, racial discrimination against
Filipino students, and absence of academic freedom. Because of these concerns and needs, a royal
decree was established. The languages that should be taught to students are the following: Latin,
Spanish grammar and literature, elementary Greek, French and English History( Universal,
Spanish) Mathematics(Arithmetic, Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry) Philosophy (Rhetoric,
Logic, Ethics) Geography Psychology.
American Era
If there would be one thing to thank for from the Americans, that is the system of education.
Here are things that they have done in the field of education
 Restored damaged school houses.
 Build new ones and conduct classes.
 They serve as volunteers in teaching (Thomasites)
There are three levels of Education, such are Elementary, Secondary, and College. They broke
the issue about religious bias. They promulgated a law on the separation of Church and the State
in Education. They encourage Filipino in the field of teaching and some of the outstanding
Filipino scholars were sent to US to train as teachers. The following are the subjects taught and
emphasized during American period:
GMRC, Civics, Hygiene and Sanitation, Geography, Grammar and composition, Reading,
Spelling, Science courses, Physiology
Japanese Era
In the Japanese period, there were 6 basic principles of Japanese Education
1. Realization of NEW ORDER and promote friendly relations between Japan and the
Philippines to the farthest extent
2. Foster a new Filipino culture based
3. Endeavor to elevate the morals of people, giving up over emphasis of materialism
4. Diffusion of the Japanese language in the Philippines
5. Promotion of VOCATIONAL course
6. To inspire people with the spirit of love and labor.

The following are the subjects and accomplishments done by the Japanese:
1. School calendar became longer
2. No summer vacation for students
3. Class size increased to 60
4. Deleted anti-asian opinions
5. banned the singing of american songs
6. deleted american symbols, poems and pictures
7. Nihongo as a means of introducing and cultivating love for Japanese culture
8. Social Studies

After 1940
The objective of the Philippine Education was to establish “integrated, nationalistic, and
democracy- inspired educational system” included the ff.
1. Inculcate moral and spiritual values inspired by an abiding faith in God
2. To develop an enlighten, patriotic, useful and upright citizenry in a democratic society
3. Conservation of the national resources
4. Perpetuation of our desirable values
5. Promote the science, arts and letters

Martial Law period

The Department of Education became the Department of Education and Culture in 1972,
the Ministry of Education and Culture in 1978, and with the Education Act of 1982, the Ministry
of Education, Culture, and Sports. A bilingual education scheme was established in 1974, requiring
Filipino and English to be used in schools. Science and math subjects as well as English language
and literature classes were taught in English while the rest were taught in Filipino.
From 1986 to the present
The bilingual policy in education was reiterated in the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines.
(EDCOM), Congress passed Republic Act 7722 and Republic Act 7796 in 1994, creating the
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA). The institute governing basic education was thus renamed in 2001 as the
Department of Education (DepEd). The quality of public school education is generally considered
to have declined since the post-war years, mainly due to insufficient funds. The Department of
Education aims to address the major problems affecting public education by 2010. Private schools
are able to offer better facilities and education, but are also much more expensive. There is a wide
variety of private schools, including all-boys’ and all-girls’ schools, religious schools, non-
sectarian schools, Chinese schools, special schools, and international schools. Due to economic
difficulties, there has been a recent increase in the popularity of home schooling and open
universities in the Philippines.

Mikko Niño M. Rufin

Reference:
https://prezi.com/x1mfheffogxq/history-of-curriculum-development-of-the-philippines/
https://www.teacherph.com/history-system-education-philippines/
http://www.deped.gov.ph/about-deped/history/
https://www.slideshare.net/johnarvin18/historical-foundations-of-curriculum-in-the-philippines