DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES FROM PRE-

SPANISH TO PRESENTTIMESEDUCATION DURING THE PRE- SPANISH

PERIOD

• Pre-Hispanic education in the Philippines was not formal.

• Education was oral, practical, and hands-on.
• The objective was basically to promote reverence for, and adoration of Bathala,
respect fo rlaws, customs, and authorities represented by parents and elders.
• When the Spaniards arrived in the Philippines they encountered islanders who knew
how to read and write.

EDUCATION DURING THE SPANISH ERA

EDUCATIONAL AIM 
The Royal decree of 1555 mandated these goals of Spanish education in the country:
- Indoctrination of Christianity
- Promotion of the Spanish language
- Imposition of Spanish Culture 
TEACHING METHODS
- Dictation
- Memorization
- Other techniques such as moro-moro, cenaculo and other theatrical performances 
TYPE OF EDUCATION
- Authoritarianism
- Teacher-dominated
- Subject centered
- Imposition of severe discipline
AGENCIES/CONTENT STUDIED:
-The education of the Filipino was focused mainly on the learning of the Christian
doctrine.
- It took three and half centuries before the Spanish gov’t. set up a school system.
- The Augustinians, Franciscans, Dominicans, and Jesuits introduced the parochial
school concept practiced in Europe during the Dark Ages.
- Subjects other than Doctrina were arithmetic, music & various arts and trades
- Training was done formally through the visitas w/c served as the first schools.
- Secondary schools established such as colegios for boys & beaterios for girls.
a.) Colegio de San Ignacio by the Jesuits in 1589 in Manila was the first colegio.
b.) The Dominicans put up the Colegio de Santo Rosario w/c later became Colegio de
Santo Tomas now the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas.
c.) The Beaterio de Santa Isabel was founded in 1632 and became the oldest existing
school for girls.
- Institutions established for higher learning to provide the church with centers and the
state w/ much needed judges and lawyers.
• OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS:
- Up liftment of the Philippine Education. The first educational system for students
in thecountry was established by the virtue of the Educational Decree of 1863 w/c
required the government to provide school institutions for boys and girls in every town.
First attempt of the Spaniards to establish an overall public school system.
- Provision for training of teachers through a normal school attached to Escuela Pia,
now Ateneo de Manila University.
- Complete system of education
- Free system of education
- Reorganization of the school curriculum
- Government supervision and control of school thus breaking 3 century church
dominationin education.
-Produced the first grammar and dictionaries that led to the development of Filipino
languages.

EDUCATION DURING THE AMERICAN PERIOD

EDUCATIONAL AIM
- To promote democratic ideals and way of life AGENCIES/ CONTENT STUDIED
AGENCIES/ CONTENT STUDIED
- The defeat of Spain by American forces paved the way for Aguinaldo’s Republic under
a Revolutionary Government.
- The schools maintained by Spain for more than three centuries were closed for the
time being but were reopened on August 29, 1898 by the Secretary of Interior.
-The Burgos Institute of Malolos, the Military Academy of Malolos and the Literary
University of the Philippines were established.
-A system of free and compulsory elementary education was established by the
Malolos Constitution.
- Training was done through the schools both public and secular manned by Chaplains
and military officers of the US army and the Thomasites brought here by the vessel
Thomas.
- The University of the Philippines was founded in 1908.
- Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, good manners and right conduct (GMRC), civics, hygiene
and sanitation, gardening, domestic science, American history, and Philippine history
were the subjects for study.
- Philippine education during this period was highly influenced by the Philosophy of
John Dewey.
• OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS
- Religious freedom was enforced
- Development of the intelligence, right attitudes and habits of children who were to
become citizens of the future were emphasized.
- Democratic ideal as a philosophy was emphasized
• Legal Mandate
- The EDUCATIONAL ACT OF 1901, also known as ACT NO.74 of the Philippine
Commission, was promulgated to establish a Department of Public Instruction to
oversee the operation of public schools.
a.) Sections 1 to 13 of the Act were meant to establish a highly centralized system.
b.) Section 14 to 15 provided for the importation of American teachers (Thomasites).
Section 16provided for the separation of church and state.
c.) Section 17 crated the Philippine Normal School, now Philippine Normal University
(PNU).
- The Department of Public Instruction set up thee level school system. The 1st level
consisted of a four-year primary and a three-year intermediate or seven-year
elementary school. The 2nd level was a four-year high school. The 3rd level was at first a
two-year junior college and later a four-year program.
- In 1925, the Monroe Survey Commission, headed by Paul Monroe was created to
evaluate the entire school system the Americans set up, the first of its kind in the
country. Act No.3162 & 3196 made possible the conduct of the Monroe survey and
recommended the following:
a.) educational reforms regarding methods & techniques of teaching, supervision,
teaching,training and curriculum.
b.) evaluation of teaching and learning
- In 1927, there is the provision of English as a common language, by the American
Director of the Bureau of Education.

EDUCATION DURING THE COMMONWEALTH PERIOD (1935-1942)

• LEGAL MANDATE
• Executive Order No.17
of President Quezon promulgated the so-called “Quezon Code of Ethics” which laid
the foundation of the emerging philosophy of Philippine education.
• Executive Order No.134 in 1936
of President Quezon designated Tagalog as the basisof a national language.
• Executive Order No.263 in 1940
required the teaching of the Filipino national languagein the senior year of all high
schools and in all years in the normal schools.
• The Education Act of 1940(C.A.586),
approved by the Philippine Assembly on August7, 1940, provided for the following:
a) Reduction of the 7-year elementary course to 6 years
b) Fixing the school entrance at 7 years
c) National support for elementary education
d) Compulsory attendance of primary children enrolled in grade 1
e) Adoption of double-single sessions in the primary grade with one teacher one
classassignment of intermediate teachers.

EDUCATION DURING THE JAPANESE OCCUPATION (1943-1945)

Order No.2 of the Japanese Imperial Forces set-up the war-time educational objectives
in thecountry on February 17, 1942
•Education aimed at:
- Making the people understand the position of the Philippines as a member of the East
Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.
- Eradication of the old idea of reliance upon western states particularly the US and
Great Britain.
- Fostering a new Filipino culture based on the consciousness of the people
as Orientals.
- Elevating the morals of the people giving up over-emphasis on materialism.
- Diffusion of elementary education and promotion of vocational education.
- Striving for the diffusion of the Japanese language in the Philippines and the
termination of the use of the English language in schools, and
- Inspiring the people with the spirit to love labor.
AGENCIES/CONTENT STUDIED:
- Training was done formally through the schools, which gave more emphasis on:
vocational, technical and agriculture.
- Opening of vocational schools
- Establishment of agricultural schools and colleges
- Curricular content was centered on values rooted on love for labor; emphasizing
vocational education; spread the use of Nippongo, and teaching physical education and
singing Japanese songs.
• LEGAL MANDATE
Proclamation No.1
- Informed the people that sovereignty of the United States over the Philippines was
overand that Martial Law was to reign.

 
EDUCATION DURING THE REPUBLIC (1945-1972)
July 4, 1946 – restoration of Philippine Independence.Educational Aims
- Education aimed at the full realization of the democratic ideals and way of life.
The 1935 Constitution continued to be implemented during the entire period.
Philosophical Basis of Education (Per 1935 Constitution)
- All educational institutions are under the State
- State shall provide complete and adequate system of public education
- All schools shall aim to develop moral character, personal discipline, civic conscience
and vocational efficiency.
- Optional religious instruction
- State universities shall enjoy academic freedom
- State shall create scholarships
Legal Mandates
• The Board of Textbooks was created pursuant to R.A. 139, enacted on June 14, 1947
• In 1947, by virtue of Executive Order No.94, the Department of Instruction was
changed to“Department of Education”.
• On June 15, 1954, the civil service eligibility of teachers was made permanent
pursuant to R.A. 1079.
• RA 1124-creation of National Board of Education (NBE) in 1954.
• A daily flag ceremony was made compulsory in all schools including the singing of the National
Anthem pursuant to R.A.1265, approved on June 11, 1955.
• In terms of curricular offerings in all schools, the life, the works, and writings of Jose
Rizal especially the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo shall be included in all levels
pursuantto R.A.1425 approved on June 12, 1956.
• Elementary education was nationalized and abolished matriculation fees pursuant to
R.A.4007
• The Magna Carta for Public School Teachers (R.A.4670) was enacted on June 18,
1966.

EDUCATION DURING THE NEW SOCIETY (1972-1986)

In 1972, the Department of Education became the “Department of Education and
Culture”by Proclamation 1081
The fundamental aims of education in the 1973 Constitution are
- To foster love of country;
- Teach the duties of citizenship, and
- Develop moral character, self discipline, and scientific, technological and vocational
efficiency
AGENCIES/CONTENTS STUDIED:
- Curricular changes in elementary education
- Focused on education
- Integration of values in all learning areas
- Emphasis on mastery learning
- Curricular changes in secondary education
- Increased in time allotment
- YDT and CAT introduced as new courses
- Elective offerings as part of the curriculum
Legal Mandates
• NCEE, as per PD 146 issued on March 9, 1973, required all senior high school
students topass the NCEE as prerequisite for admission to any post-secondary
academic or professional degree program.
• In 1978, by PD No.1397 the Department of Education and Culture became the
Ministry of Education and Culture
• Tertiary honor students (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, cum laude) are
granted civil service eligibility, pursuant to PD 907 issued on March 1976 starting school
year1972-1973.
• Department Order No.25s. 1974 (Bilingual Education Program)
• Teachers are considered professionals and teaching as a profession upon passing
the PBET as per PD 1006 issued on September 22, 1976.
• Batas Pambansa Blg.232 (Education Act of 1982) entitled “ An Act Providing for the
Establishment and Maintenance of an Integrated System of Education”, w/c covers both
formal and non-formal education at all levels.
• The Act provided for maintenance of “quality education” through:
- Voluntary accreditation for schools, colleges or university to upgrade their standards
- Government financial assistance to private schools
EDUCATION DURING THE PRESENT PERIOD (1986-
PRESENT)
Educational System and Curricular Reforms
- Implementation of New Elementary School Curriculum (NESC)
Its features are:
a) Fewer learning areas, emphasis on mastery learning
b) Focused on the development of 3r’s and
c) Emphasis on the development of intellectual skills which as are important as work
skills
d) Focus on the development of humanism and Filipinism in all learning areas
- Implementation of the New Secondary Education Curriculum (NSEC)
Its features are:
a) Student centered
b) Cognitive-affective manipulative based curiculum uses bilingual policy
c) Values education offered as separate subject area
d) Emphasis on Science and Technology
e) Critical thinking emphasized
•1987 Constitution – Educational Provisions
- Complete, adequate and integrated systems of education
- Free public education in the elementary and high school levels
- Scholarship grants, student loan programs, subsidies and other incentives
•1987 Constitution fundamental aims of education
- Shall inculcate patriotism and nationalism
- Foster love of humanity
- Respect for human rights
- Appreciation of the role of the national heroes in the historical development of the
country
- Teach the rights and duties of citizenship
- Strengthen ethical and spiritual values
- Develop moral character and personal discipline
- Encourage critical creative thinking
- Broaden scientific and technological knowledge
- Promote vocational efficiency
• The Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM) report of 1991 recommended
the division of DECS into three parts.
• On May 18, 1994, Congress passed Republic Act 7722, the Higher Education Act of
1994
a) Creating Commission on Higher Education (CHED), which assumed the functions of
the Bureau of Higher Education and supervises tertiary degree programs.
• On August 25, 1994, Congress passed Republic Act 7796, the Technical Education
and Skills Development Act of 1994
a) Creating the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA),
w/c absorbed the Bureau of Technical-Vocational Education plus the National Man
power and Youth Council, and supervises non-degree technical-vocational programs.
-DECS retained responsibility for all elementary and secondary education.
•It also enacted into the establishment of Centers of Excellence in Teacher Education
In each region of the country (R.A. 7784) August 4, 1994, good for a period of 5 years.
•THESE EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS HAPPENED DURING THE TERM OF
PRESIDENT FIDELRAMOS.
P.D. 1001 R.A. 7836 was signed into law on December 16, 1994 has these important
provisions
a) Creation of the Board for Professional Teachers composed of 5 commissioners under
PRC.
b) Replacement of PBET by LET
c) Transfer of authority of administering LET from CSC and DECS to the Board of
Professional Teachers under PRC.
d) The formulation, adoption and promulgation of the Code of Ethical and Professional
Standards for Professional Teachers Pursuant to paragraph(e), Article II of R.A. 7836.
 THE TRIFOCAL EDUCATION SYSTEM
- In August 2001, R.A. 9155 otherwise called the Governance of Basic Education Act,was
passed transforming the name of the Department of Education, Culture and
Sports(DECS)to the Department of Education (DepEd) and redefining the role of field
offices.
- The goal of basic education is to provide the school age population and young adults
skills,knowledge, and values to become caring, self-reliant, productive and patriotic
citizens.
Under President Noynoy Aquino
-Aquino’s 10-point basic education agenda
1) 12-year Basic Education Cycle
2) Universal pre-schooling for all.
3) Madaris education as a sub-system within the educational system
4) Technical vocational education as an alternative stream in high school
5)“Every child a reader” by grade 1
6) Science and Math proficiency
7) Assistance to private schools as essential partners in basic education
8) Medium of instruction rationalized
9)Quality textbooks
10)Covenant with the local governments to build
more schools.