Philippine History1
Philippine History1
Philippine History1
You are here: Home / Teaching & Education / A History of the System of Education in the Philippines
– Its Implication for the Present Generation
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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).
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.
With the country’s celebration of independence in 1946, scarcely seven decades
ago, have come every aspect of educational system in line with the new status of
a new nation seeking to achieve and maintain political and economic
independence and to fashion a nation truly united out of social and cultural
diversities.
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.
The first schools were the parochial schools opened by the missionaries in their
parishes. In addition to religion, the native children in these schools were taught
reading, writing, arithmetic and some vocational and p ractical arts subjects.
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.
There was no co-education during the Spanish times. Boys and girls studied in
separate schools.
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.
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. In 1863, a royal decree called for
the establishment of a public school system in the colony.
Consequently, it was not surprising that the United States considered educating
the Filipinos as one of its top priorities in the Philippines. Even while US troops
were consolidating their foothold in Manila in 1898, schools were already opened
in the city. But 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.
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. Hundreds of Filipinopensionados 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.
Hungry for education, the Filipinos flocked to public and private schools in large
numbers.
EDUCATION UNDER THE
COMMONWEALTH
Education continued to receive from the Commonwealth government the sa me
attention that the Americans gave it. President Quezon created the National
Council of Education in 1936 as an advisory body on educational matters. The
council made important recommendations to further improve the educational
system in the Philippines. Most of these recommendations were accepted and
carried out by the government.
Under the Commonwealth, vocational and adult education were given emphasis.
It was also during the Commonwealth regime that an organized effort to develop a
common national language was stared in compliance with the mandate of the
1935 constitution.
To help counteract the American cultural influence among the Filipinos, President
Quezon greatly encouraged the revival of native culture as well as desirable
Filipino values.
And to help strengthen the moral fibers of the Filipinos and to foster love of
country especially among the youth, President Quezon issued his famous Code of
Ethics which was required to be taught in all schools.
Every time changes in our educational system occur to search for the solution for
our educational ills, some pressure groups interfere and say it is “unrealistic and
expensive,” which is not a valid reason. Courage and energy for action should be
sustained to invigorate the lives of the citizenry.
After four centuries and a half of being a colony of Spain, America and Japan, the
concern of the Filipino educators and policy makers is the Filipinization of the
Filipinos and Filipino institutions. Alejandro Roces, while holding office as the
Secretary of Education, voiced this concern thus:
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Filed Under: Teaching & EducationTagged With: educational system, history, learning, philippines, teaching
READER INTERACTIONS
COMMENTS
1. kenneth lee
February 1, 2017 at 3:20 pm
sana mabasa nyo po ito … ako po kabilang ng aking mga kagrupo ay nag
papalabas ng isang makasaysayang dula sa larangan ng entablado … ito po ay
stage play ang pamagat ay KAGITINGAN Bataan Has Fallen … nilalayon po
namin na matulungan ang ating mga guro na ipaalam sa libo -libong estudyante
dito sa pilipinas na kung ano ang kahalagahan ng history ng pilipinas at kung sino
sino ang mga naging bayani ng noong ikalawang digmaan ….. ang grupo ko po
ay ALTITUDE THEATER ARTS PRODUCTION !!! KUNG MAY KATANUNGAN PA
PO KAU KINDLY pm ME ON FACEBOOK kENNETH LEE or sa email namin
na [email protected]
REPLY
2. chalow
January 19, 2017 at 5:02 pm
3. Acezek
October 18, 2016 at 1:15 pm
hi! I just wanna ask what is the first curriculum in the Philippines?
REPLY
4. marievic
April 20, 2016 at 7:35 am
I’d like to comment on the topic the Iloilo experiment. In light with MTB -MLE this
was the first recorded attempt on the use of the first language as LOI. It was not
really fiasco on the educational system as presented in this blog.
REPLY
5. Annie Grace
December 20, 2014 at 9:17 am
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