THE HISTORY OF

PHILIPPINE EDUCATION
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 3
INTRODUCTION GOALS OF EDUCATION
IN DIFFERENT
PERIODS

IMPORTANCE OF

2 4
THE 5(FIVE) PERIODS IN STUDYING HISTORY
EDUCATION SYSTEM OF EDUCATION OF
THE PHILIPPINES
 INTRODUCTION
- In the ancient Philippines, children were given
the rudiments of education. Such education was
both academic and vocation. The father trained
his sons to be warriors, hunters, fishermen,
miners, lumbermen, and shipbuilders. The
mother on her part trained her daughters in
cooking, gardening, serving, and other household
arts.

- 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.
THE 5(FIVE) PERIODS
IN EDUCATION
SYSTEM
• Spanish Period
• American Period
• Commonwealth Period
• Japanese Period
• The New Society and Today
 SPANISH PERIOD
- With the coming of Spain, the European system of education was
introduced to the archipelago. Primary schools, colleges, and universities
were established in our country by the missionaries.

- 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.
AMERICAN PERIOD
- The United States had a different approach dictated by what the Americans considered to be their
principal goal in coming to the Philippines – “to educate and to train in the science of self-government.”

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.

The Americans gave bright young Filipino students the 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 Filipino pensionados 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.
 Spanish Period

American Period
COMMONWEALTH
- Education continued to receive from the Commonwealth government the same
attention that thePERIOD
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 started in compliance with the mandate of the 1935
constitution.

- In 1940, several changes were made in the Philippine educational system by virtue
of the Educational Act of 1940. Under this law, the elementary course was reduced
from 7 years to 6 years. The minimum age for admission to Grade I was raised to 7.
The school calendar was also changed so instead of the school year from June to
March, it was changed to July to April.
 JAPANESE PERIOD

- Schools and churches were also used as propaganda tools for the Japanese.
Nippon-go, the Japanese language, was made a compulsory subject in all
schools. Japanese Catholic priests were sent to the Philippines to help
promote the idea that Japan, being an Asian country, was a friend of all Asian
people’s including the Filipinos.

- Under the Japanese regime, the teaching of Tagalog, Philippine History, and
Character Education was reserved for Filipinos. Love for work and dignity of
labor was emphasized. On February 27, 1945, the Department of Instruction
was made part of the Department of Public Instruction.
 THE NEW SOCIETY AND TODAY
- It was assumed that the most fundamental objective of education is the
development of an individual’s potential which will simultaneously
improve society. Educational policies have been geared to the
accomplishment of better manpower production through the understanding
by the students of land reform, taxation, economic production, anti-drug
and anti-pollution, and conservation education. The concept of an average
layman or teacher in the “new society” was always associated with the
advent of Martial Law. This must be redirected to a functional definition of
wholesome integration of our economic, social, and moral lives for the
progressive Philippines. The direction of education as envisioned by our
educators can be best described by the following changes:
1. A relevant and flexible curriculum.
2. Productive-coordinated technocrats. 
COMMONWEALTH PERIOD JAPANESE PERIOD NEW SOCIETY AND TODAY
ALS OF EDUCATION IN DIFFERENT PERIODS
SPANISH AMERICAN COMMONWEALTH
PERIOD
The goal to teach the PERIOD goal during
Educational PERIOD
to develop moral character,
Christian faith to the the American period personal discipline, civic
literate population. is to promote conscience, and vocational
Eventually, the Baybayin democratic ideals and efficiency, and to teach the
script was replaced by the way of life; formation of duties of citizenship.
Latin script, as this good citizens, including Curricular emphasis was
the rights and on, character education and
became increasingly more
responsibilities of citizenship training
useful and widespread.JAPANESEpeople. NEW SOCIETY AND
The goalsPERIOD
of compulsory The goal toTODAY
moral values,
education are to enhance relevance, proper methods of
students' individual abilities teaching, retraining of
and develop a basis for their teachers, vocational and
social independence and basic technical education,
abilities as citizens of the bilingualism, national
consciousness and cultural
nation.
 IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING HISTORY OF
EDUCATION IN PHILIPPINES

- History of Education will help

you to understand how the past
- Secondly, it will enable you to
events shaped the present
appreciate the importance of
education systems, theories and
education to mankind since time
related phenomenon in the area
immemorial across the generations.
of teacher education in particular
By so doing, you are will be able to
and education in general.
critically examine the fundamental
part which education plays in the
transformation of society.

- Note that as a teacher and student, you are a

change agent so learning the history of education
will prepare you in training to examine present
trends and dynamics in education, draw practical
lessons from the past, avoid possible mistakes,
and initiate more viable plans for the benefit of
Society.
 PREPARED BY:
AL HUSSIEN K. SUMPINGAN

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