Historical Perspective: Philippines Educational System

Philippine Educational System: Historical Perspective | | The present educational system of the Philippines is the result of a long process of educational evolution. A. Pre-Spanish Period During the pre-Spanish period, education was informal. It means that there was no overruling agency that governs the educational system.  The child is taught at home by the parents or by some tribal tutor. The practice of apprenticeship, whereby a person usually learns some occupational skill from his parents or sent to somebody as an apprentice who knows a certain job [say, a blacksmith] Institutionalized education in the form of initiation rites and religious ceremonies. The priest called sonats provided a specialized training for would-be priest. We can safely assume that subjects of instruction that is being taught inside the house deals with tribal rules/codes, instructions of faith [paganism, animism], basic counting system [I believe that there should be since early Filipinos [or should we say Indio] were already exchanging trades with neighboring Asian countries], and basic literacy [the Alibata, our local alphabet system and local language]. B. Spanish period During the Spanish period, education became organized. A major educational reform was affected that gives a complete educational system for Filipinos. The Early Part of the Spanish Regime  Schools were set up for the upper social classes founded by Spaniards for the Spanish youth. Filipino boys and girls attended parochial schools. The curriculum was predominantly religious. The children learned Christian doctrine, sacred songs and music, and prayers required for the sacraments of confession and communion. The 3 R’s were given to brighter students. Other subjects includes (after 1863), the 3 R’s, history, Christian doctrine, the Spanish language, vocal music, and agriculture for boys and needlework for girls Educational Decree