CHAPTER 9

THE CURRICULA OF
PHILIPPINE SCHOOLS

BY: CYREL T. QUIAWAN

INTRODUCTION
 The curriculum is the sum total of all the learner`s
experiences which are in any way affected by the school.
 The co~curricular experiences which the school offers
are definitely a part of the curriculum experiences.
 During the successive regimes in the Philippines , the
curriculum went through radical changes to conform to
the changing objectives of education.
 Before the coming of Spaniards, the early Filipinos had a
culture of their own and education was informal.
 Education during Spanish Era was pre~dominantly
religious.
 The Educational Decree of 1863 which was promulgated
during this era gave the Filipinos a complete educational system
from the elementary to the tertiary level.
During the American Regime the curriculum prescribed was
designated to realize the objectives of American Democracy.
The Japanese regime exerts all efforts to wean(Stop) the
Filipinos from reliance on the Western Powers.
With the declaration of Martial Law in 1972 an educational
revolution started which made education relevant to the goals of
National Development.
THE PHILIPPINE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM INCLUDES THREE
LEVELS OF INSTRUCTION: ELEMENTARY, SECONDARY AND
TERTIARY LEVELS
Years in School Normal Age Level Graduate Post Graduate Studies
8 23 Third COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES
7 22 Higher General Higher Education
6 21 Education Vocational/Technical Education
5 20 Medical
4 19 Law
3 18 Other Professional courses
2 17
1 16
4 15 Second SECONDARY SCHOOLS
3 14 Secondary General Education
2 13 Education Vocational/Technical Secondary
1 12

6 11 First INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS

5 10 Elementary
4 9 Education
3 8 PRIMARY SCHOOLS
2 7
1 6
5 KINDERGARTEN AND NURSERY
4
PRE~SCHOOL EDUCATION
 Is given in public normal laboratory schools, in a few public
schools and in most private school and colleges. In the
laboratory schools of normal colleges, two divisions of
kindergarten are offered. The junior kindergarten , which is
similar to a nursery class, is given to children who are five
years old. The senior kindergarten is for children who are six
years old. Nursery and kindergarten classes are mostly found
in private schools where children of ages four to six are
accommodated. In a some private schools , child goes to a
prep school instead of kindergarten after finishing nursery
school. Some private schools have all three nursery,
kindergarten and prep school.
ELEMENTARY EDUCATION
 The primary and intermediate schools together provide
the basic elementary education in the Philippines.