In 1991, the congressional commission on education (EDCOM) was tasked to review the educational system in the Philippines
The commission reported several findings such as high dropout rates in rural areas, lack of special education (SPED) schools, a declining the quality of education, and an inadequate investment in education by the national government.
because of the findings they recommended the educational system would be divided into 3 parts: Basic education, Higher Education, Technical or Vocational Education
The government eventually called the 3 basic education the "Trifocal" system.
The Basic education was regulated by the Department of Education (DepEd)
the Higher Education was regulated by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
Technical and vocational education is regulated by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
The basic education covers the Kindergarten to grade 12 (K-12) system
The Department of Education (DepED) is the main agency in charge of basic education, and it determines the overall standards and coverage of K-12
In October 1947, President Manuel Roxas issues Executive Order No. 94 which established the department of Education, a name that was used until 1975
the department was renamed the Department of Education and Culture based on Proclamation No. 1081 issued by the President Ferdinand Marcos
Marcos issued Presidential Decree No. 1397, which converted all executive departments into Ministries, thus, the department became the ministry of education and culture.
In 1984 it was renamed the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports (or MECS)
From 1987 to 2001, it was named the department of Education, Culture and Sports before it was named the Department of Education
In 2001, Congress passed the Governance of Basic Education Act (RA 9155), which renamed the DECS into the present DepED.
RA 9155 provides for the overall framework for (i) school head empowerment by strengthening their leadership roles and (ii) school-based management within the context of transparency and local accountability
The second area in the trifocal system is the Higher Education that covers HigherEducationInstitutions (HEIs) or colleges and universities which may be private or public, secular or religious.
As of 2019, there are 1,963 HEIs in the country
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) a commission under the office of the President is the primary regulatory body for higher education
The commission was created in 1994 through RA 7722 or the Higher Education Act of 1994
The creation of the Commission was due to the trifocalization of the education sector in the country as suggested by the Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM).
CHED formulates and recommends development plans, plans policies, priotiries, and programs on Higher Education.
The CHED also provides guidelines for the design of certain degree programs.
Vocational education refers to training specific to a particular trade or craft such as massage therapy, computer systems servicing, and housekeeping to cite a few
TESDA is in charge of vocational education in the Philippines. It was established in 1994 to aid in a national development plan that responds to the specific needs of industries
The main problem of the Philippine educational system revolve around access
Filipinos were most deprived in education
According to DepED, there were around 3.6 million out-of-school youths in 2017.
HEIs
Higher Education Institution
COMELEC
The Commission on Elections
TESDA
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority