Education in the Philippines
Demographics of the Philippines
Education
Religions
Languages
Peoples
Filipino
Ivatan
Ilocano
Igorot
Ibanag
Pangasinan
Kapampangan
Aeta
Sambal
Tagalog
Bicolano
Mangyan
Palawan tribes
Visayan
Ati
Chavacano
Lumad
Moro
Bajau
Mestizo
Chinese
Spanish
Africans
Americans
Arabs
Europeans
Indonesians
Japanese
Jews
Koreans
South Asians
Spaniards
Education in the Philippines has similar
features to that of the United States.
Filipino children enter public school at
about age four, starting from Nursery up to
Kindergarten. At about seven years of age,
children enter a primary school (6 to 7
years). This is followed by secondary school
(4 years). Students then sit for the College
Entrance Examinations (CEE), after which
they enter collegiate school (3 to 5 years).
Other types of schools do exist, such as Priv-
ate schools, Preparatory schools, Internation-
al schools, Laboratory High Schools and
Science High Schools. Also, several national-
ities, such as the Chinese, British, Americans,
and the Japanese also have their own
schools.
The school year in the Philippines starts in
June of one year and ends in March of the
next, with a two-month summer break for
April and May, one week of semestral break
(the last week of October), and a week or two
of Christmas break.
In 2005, the Philippines spent only about
US$138 per pupil compared to US$1,582 in
Singapore, US$3,728 in Japan, and US$852
in Thailand.[1]
History and development
Earlier times
Further
information:
Ancient
Philippine
scripts
As early as in pre-Spanish times, education
was informal, unstructured, and devoid of
methods. Children were provided more voca-
tional training and less academics (3 Rs) by
their parents and in the houses of tribal
tutors.
Spanish period
Major changes in education system happened
during the Spanish colonization. The tribal
tutors were replaced by the Spanish Mission-
aries. Education was religion-oriented. It was
for the elite, especially in the early years of
Spanish colonization. Access to education by
the Filipi