Education in the 19th Century

• Early Education

  • King Philip II of Spain ordered that the natives be taught to read and write Spanish.

  • Parochial schools run by Roman Catholic missionaries (Jesuits, Franciscans, Augustinians, Dominicans) were the first formal schools.

  • Subjects included reading, writing, arithmetic, vocational arts, and religious doctrines, often taught with strict discipline, including corporal punishment.
• Secondary and Higher Education

  • Separate schools for boys and girls offered subjects like History, Latin, Geography, Mathematics, and Philosophy.

  • Universities initially served only Spanish citizens and mestizos but later admitted Filipino natives, focusing more on religion than science and math.
• Public School System

  • In 1863, a Royal Decree established public schools, which mostly served sons of wealthy Filipino natives.

  • The rise of educated Filipinos, known as the "illustrados," who, despite their education, faced racial discrimination. Many sought higher education in Europe, leading to a growth in nationalism and the push for independence through the Propaganda Movement.