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CHAPTER III

Review of Related Literature

The system of education in the Philippines was patterned, both from the

educational systems of Spain and the United States. However, after the liberation of the

Philippines in 1946, the system have changed radically and moved at its own.

The Department of Education (or DepEd) administers the whole educational

system, which also includes the allocation of funds utilized for school services and

equipments (such as books, school chairs, etc.), recruitment of teachers for all public

schools in the Philippines, and the supervision and organization of the school curricula.

The former education system of the Philippines is composed of: 6 years

of elementary education starting at the age of 6 or 7, and 4 years of high school

education starting at the age of 12 or 13. In this system, education is not compulsory.

However, since June 4, 2012, DepEd started to implement the new K-12 educational

system, which includes the new curricula for all schools. In this system, education is now

compulsory.

All public and private schools in the Philippines must start classes from a date

mandated by the Department of Education (usually every first Monday of June for public

schools only), and must end after each school completes the mandated 200-day school

calendar of DepEd (usually around the third week of March to the second week of April).

Secondary school in the Philippines, more commonly known as "high school"

( paaralang sekundarya, sometimes mataas na paaralan), consists of four levels largely

based on the American schooling system as it was until the advent of the comprehensive
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high schools in the US in the middle of last century. The Philippine high school system

has not moved much from wher e it was when the Philippines achieved

independence from the US in 1946. It still consists of only four levels with each level

partially compartmentalized, focusing on a particular theme or content. DepEd specifies a

compulsory curriculum for all high schooling, public and private. The first year of high

school has five core subjects, Algebra I, Integrated Science, English I, Filipino I, and

Philippine History I. Second year has Algebra II, Biology, English II, Filipino II, and

Asian History. Third year has Geometry, Trigonometry, Chemistry, Filipino III, and

World History and Geography. Fourth year has Calculus, Advanced Algebra, Physics,

Filipino IV, Literature, and Economics. Minor subjects may include Health, Music, Arts,

Technology and Home Economics, and Physical Education.

In selective schools, various languages may be offered as electives, as well as other

subjects such as computer programming and literary writing. Chinese schools have

language and cultural electives. Preparatory schools usually add some business and

accountancy courses, while science high schools have biology, chemistry, and physics at

every level.

Secondary students used to sit for the National Secondary Achievement Test

(NSAT), which was based on the American SAT, and was administered by DepEd. Like

its primary school counterpart, NSAT was phased-out after major reorganizations in the

education department. Now the National Achievement Test is administered to second

year students. Higher education institutions, both public and private, administer their

own College Entrance Examinations (CEE). Vocational colleges usually do not have

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entrance examinations, simply accepting the Form 138 record of studies from high

school, and enrolment payment.

( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_the_Philippines#Secondary_education)

The promulgation of Presidential Decree No. 1006 on September 22, 1976

formally organized the National Board for Teachers (NBT). Directly under the

supervision of the Civil Service Commission, the NBT was the first board to exercise

regulatory exercise over the teaching profession.

On December 16, 1994 the regulation and licensing of teachers was transferred to

the PRC through the enactment of Republic Act No. 7836, otherwise known as “The

Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994.” The law provided for the

professionalization of teaching under the aegis of the PRC.

Pursuant to the law, the first Board for Professional Teachers (BPT) was

constituted on September 19, 1995 with the appointment of Dr. Nilo L. Rosas as

Chairman, Dr. Aurelio O. Elevazo as Vice-Chairman and Dr. Lucila F. Tibigar, Dr. Fe A.

Hidalgo and Dr. Martha A. Mogol as Members.

On August 1996, the Board and the PRC administered the Licensure Examination

for Teachers (LET) for the first time to 97,560 examinees. In 1997, 101,348 examinees

took the LET, a record in the history of professional regulation. In 1998, a total of

115,499 took the LET, and in 1999, 123,025.

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In 1996, the Board also administered the first licensure examination for school

superintendents, the results of which were released five (5) days after the examination

date.

Today, teachers constitute more than half a million, comprising one of the largest

occupational groups in the country. http://www.prc.gov.ph/prb/default.aspx?

id=38&content=224