Spanish Style Philosophy and
Revolutionary Republic
History of Philippine Education
“Education in the Philippines has
undergone several stages of development
from the pre-Spanish times to the
present. In meeting the needs of the
society, education serves as focus of
emphases/priorities of the leadership at
certain periods/epochs in our national
struggle as a race.
As early as in pre-Magellanic
times, education was informal,
unstructured, and devoid of
methods. Children were provided
more vocational training and less
academics (3 Rs) by their parents
and in the houses of tribal tutors.
The pre-Spanish system of
education underwent major
changes during the Spanish
colonization. The tribal tutors were
replaced by the Spanish
Missionaries. Education was
religion-oriented. It was for the
elite, especially in the early years
of Spanish colonization.
Access to education by the Filipinos
was later liberalized through the
enactment of the Educational Decree
of 1863 which provided for the
establishment of at least one primary
school for boys and girls in each town
under the responsibility of the
municipal government;
and the establishment of a normal
school for male teachers under the
supervision of the Jesuits. Primary
instruction was free and the
teaching of Spanish was
compulsory. Education during that
period was inadequate,
suppressed, and controlled.
The defeat of Spain by
American forces paved the way for
Aguinaldo’s Republic under a
Revolutionary Government. The
schools maintained by Spain for
more than three centuries were
closed for the time being but were
reopened on August 29, 1898 by
the Secretary of Interior.
The Burgos Institute in Malolos,
the Military Academy of Malolos,
and the Literary University of the
Philippines were established. A
system of free and compulsory
elementary education was
established by the Malolos
Constitution. (Department of
Education, n.d.)”
Spanish friars and missionaries
Formal education – religion-based and
controlled by the Roman Catholic
Church
Oldest universities, colleges, and
vocational schools – were created by
Catholic missionary/religious orders:
1. Augustinians – founded the first school in Cebu
in 1565
2. Franciscans in 1577
3. Jesuits in 1581
4. Dominicans in 1587
Spanish education centered on religion. The
Spanish educational system was meant to
keep the natives faithful, in order to keep
Church’s authority over the lives of the Indios
(colonized Filipinos).
Queen Isabella of Spain ordered
the Education decree – free
access to primary education for
boys and girls in each town.
- a complete and
structured educational system
(primary to secondary to tertiary)
Non-religious Courses
- Mathematics
- History
- Geography
- Philosophy
- Psychology
Illustrados – a group of enlightened
individuals
1. Graciano Lopez Jaena
2. Mariano Ponce
3. Marcelo H. del Pilar
4. Antonio Luna
5. Jose P. Rizal
Revolutionary Republic
Reforms sought by Propaganda
Movement
1. Secularization of education
2. Instruction of Spanish
3. Greater attention to science
for males and females
4. The design of a relevant
curriculum
5. The improvement of higher
centers of learning
6. The establishment of an
educational system comparable
to those in progressive countries
References
Department of Education. (n.d.).
Historical Perspective of the
Philippine Educational System.
[Link]
eped/history/
