

abel d soto
abel soto EDUCATION IN the Philippines has undergone several stages of development from the pre-Spanish times to the present. In meeting the needs of society, education serves as focus of emphases/priorities of the leadership at certain periods/epochs in our national struggle as a race.


The pre-Spanish system of education underwent major changes during the Spanish colonization. The tribal tutors were replaced by the Spanish missionaries. Education was religion-oriented. (Why was education during this era religion-oriented?, and—following next— Why was it greatly reserved for the elite only?) It was for the elite, especially in the early years of Spanish colonization. Access to education by the Filipinos was later liberalized through the enactment of the Educational Decree of 1863, which provided for the establishment of at least one primary school for boys and girls in each town under the responsibility of the municipal government; and the establishment of a normal school for male teachers (Why only male teachers?) under the supervision of the Jesuits. Primary instruction was free, and the teaching of Spanish was compulsory. (What were the effects of teaching Spanish on Filipino culture?) Education during that period was inadequate, suppressed, and controlled. (Again, the perennial question: Why?)

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 in 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. An adequate, secularized, and free public school system during the first decade of American rule was established upon the recommendation of the Schurman Commission. (What beginning can we trace here at a tangent with the Philippine Educational System?) Free primary instruction that trained the people for the duties of citizenship and avocation was enforced by the Taft Commission, per instructions of President McKinley. Chaplains and non-commissioned officers were assigned to teach using English as the medium of instruction.

A highly centralized public school system was installed in 1901 by the Philippine Commission, by virtue of Act No. 74. The implementation of this Act created a heavy shortage of teachers, so the Philippine Commission authorized the Secretary of Public Instruction to bring to the Philippines 600 teachers from the U.S.A. They were the Thomasites. (It is noticeable that the first established educational institutions in our country were public schools run by the government. And the quality of education during that time was not that bad, considering the absence of technological advancements and advantages. While today, in an era when everything is almost provided and aided by technological advancements, how is the quality of education in our country? And why is it that private schools are more favored and considered more advantageous in terms of educational quality and advancement? What happened where?)

(We can see in the above text that the problem on the shortage of teachers began way back 1901, and that we had to import teachers from the U.S.A. Now, ironically, ridiculously, and unfortunately, teachers are now forced to export themselves abroad for economic reasons.)


The Reorganization Act of 1916 provided the Filipinization of all department secretaries except the Secretary of Public Instruction.





(What can we notice in the Educational System of our country from 1972 until 1994?)



In August 2001, Republic Act 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 (regional offices, division offices, district offices and schools). RA 9155 provides the overall framework for (i) school head empowerment by strengthening their leadership roles and (ii) school-based management within the context of transparency and local accountability. The goal of basic education is to provide the school age population and young adults with skills, knowledge, and values to become caring, self-reliant, productive, and patriotic citizens.

(Sa palagay ninyo, malaki na ba and ipinagbago ng sistema sa edukasyon ng Pilipinas, o naiwan lang sa pangalan ang mga naging pababago sa ating edukasyon?)


-Posted: 3:46 PM 6/17/09 | More of this author on eK!