Historical Perspective of the Philippine Educational System

From the pre-Spanish times to the present, the educational system of the Philippines has undergone several stages of development. These stages have been affected largely by the changing political regimes that have controlled the native people.

Pre-Magellanic times - informal education based in vocational training, and the 3 R's as taught by parents.

Spanish Colonization - religious based education by Spanish Missionaries for elites only.

Educational Decree of 1863 - education by Filipinos at one primary school for boys and girls in each town, and a school for male teachers under the direction of the Jesuits. Primary instruction was free, and the teaching of Spanish was compulsory.

Aguinaldos's Republic of a Revolutionary Government 1898 - free and compulsory elementary education established.

Philippine Commission Act no.74, 1901 - a highly centralized public school system. The free public school system was run by both chaplains and non-commissioned officers assigned to teach using English as the medium of instruction. The shortage of teachers to run this new system was accommodated by hiring 600 Thomasites from the U.S.A.

Philippine Commission 1902 -Provincial governments develop high schools, special educational institutions, schools of the arts and trades, an agricultural school, and a commerce and marine institute.

Philippine Legislature approved Act no.1870 - created the University of the Philippines.

Military Order no.2, 1942 - Philippine Executive Commission established the Commission of Education, Health and Public Welfare. Under the Japanese Regime, the teaching of Tagalog, Philippine History, and Character Education was reserved for Filipinos.

Executive Order no.94, 1947 - Department of Instruction was changed to Department of Education. During this period, the regulation and supervision of public and private schools belonged to the Bureau of Public and Private Schools.

Proclamation 1081, 1972 - Department of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Education and Culture created thirteen regional offices, and major organizational changes were implemented in the educational system.

Educational Act of 1982 - created the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports, which later became the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS).

Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) established to supervise tertiary degree programs and non-degree, technical-vocational programs.

Republic Act 9155, 2001 - the Governance of Basic Education act passed to rename DECS to Department of Education. RA 9155 provided the overall framework for 1) school head empowerment by strengthening their leadership roles, and 2) 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."

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