2) Philippine Education History (Pre-Colonial & Spanish)

• Pre-Colonial Period in Philippine Education:

  • Existing religion, culture, and laws before colonization
  • Goal: integration of individuals into tribes for survival, conformity, and enculturation
  • Education was informal and unstructured, community-based learning
  • Albata / Baybayin had 14 consonants and 3 vowels
  • Learning based on gender (e.g., Boys = Building Homes, Girls = Home Management)
  • Learning started at home by parents before observation
  • Upper classes had more learning opportunities
• Spain, Portugal, and Magellan:

  • Magellan's Three Goals in the Philippines: God, Gold, Glory
  • Spain and Portugal settled disputes through treaties
  • Magellan shared information for future travelers to Southeast Asia
• Education During the Spanish Regime:

  • Missionaries were the first teachers
  • Parochial schools established for catechism teaching
• Major Problems in Education during the Spanish Period:

  • Lack of trained teachers
  • Language barrier and cultural diversity of natives
  • Topographical settings/conditions
  • Lack of funds, instructional materials, and infrastructures
• Changes brought by Royal Decrees:

  • Establishment of Colegios (Boys) and Beaterios (Girls)
  • Colegios focused on languages, history, mathematics, philosophy, geography, and psychology
  • Beaterios focused on home economics, personal development, and social graces
• Changes in the Educational Landscape During the Philippine Revolution:

  • Ilustrados led the Propaganda Movement
  • Curricular Reforms included secularization of education, instruction of Spanish, greater attention to natural science, relevant curriculum design, and improvement of higher centers of learning
• Rizal's Criticisms Toward Education in the Spanish Period:

  • Disproportionate focus on religion
  • Discouragement of Filipino students speaking Spanish
  • Lack of Pedagogical Skills
  • Irrelevant courses in the curriculum
  • Proposed subjects for secondary schools: science, math, history, philosophy, law, language, physical education, religion, music, social science