Education System of the Phillippines

The colonial experience under the Spanish and Americans had a great impact on both the school system and the educational aspirations of the people. Under Spanish rule education was undertaken mainly by Catholic missionaries, whose aim was to Christianise the Filipinos. During the period of American rule, which began in 1898, a public school system was established, which included both primary and secondary-level institutions and was patterned on that of the United States. English replaced Spanish as the medium of instruction, and American textbooks were adopted. Private universities and colleges were also established during this period.

Unlike other countries in South East Asia, which have restricted, elitist systems of higher education, the Philippines has an extensive higher education system to which access is readily available. The United States continues to influence the education system of the Philippines, directly and indirectly: through academic staff who earned their postgraduate degrees from universities in the United States, American companies operating in the Philippines who prefer to employ American-trained Filipinos, financial support of the school system by American agencies, and through the exchange of students and academic staff.

A high value is placed on education within the Filipino society. It is believed that education will pave the way to a better life, that it will contribute to the social and economic wellbeing not only of the graduate but of his or her immediate family as well. This attitude has contributed to an urban literacy rate of 86.6 per cent and a national literacy rate of 76.4 per cent.

Language of Instruction

English is widely used at the higher primary, secondary and tertiary levels.