Group-7

Rejane Paraiso
Jhon Robin N. Pancho

Educational System in the Philippines

Education is vital in almost every part of the world. Though every country has its
education system, most nations would have a similar concept or equivalent
qualification. The education system in the Philippines is different as it adopted a
combination of influences from its colonial history.

Understanding the Philippine Education System

In the Philippines, a thirteen-year education is mandatory by law. These thirteen
years run from kindergarten up to grade 12, also known as the K-12 programme.
After which, students have the option of whether to pursue higher education or not.
Three government agencies manage the different levels of education in the
Philippines.
1.The Department of Education (DepEd) sets the standards and implements
standardised tests for public schools throughout K-12. Meanwhile, private schools
tend to have more freedom in developing their curricula as long as they adhere to
DepEd’s existing laws.
2.The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) oversees higher education
institutions, such as colleges and universities.
3.The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
regulates the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)
programmes.
The medium of instruction in the Philippines is English and Filipino. However,
since the Philippines is an archipelago made up of over 7,000 islands, there are
also over 100 languages used across the country. To make it easier for younger
children, different provinces then use the local languages in primary school.
Afterwards, the language of instruction used is primarily English, especially in
more urban areas.
In the Philippines, the academic year usually commences in June and ends in
March or April
Philippine Education Structure
For a long time, the education system in the Philippines was one of the shortest in
the world. Back then, formal education was only required for 10 years (6 years of
primary school and 4 years of high school).
In 2012, the government introduced new legislation requiring students to attend
school from kindergarten (around age 5) to grade 12 (around age 18). This meant
that the new legislation added 2 years to the curriculum before students could
finish high school. Since then, the education system in the Philippines became
more similar to American K-12 schooling.
K-12 in the Philippines has 3 levels:
 Primary School (Primary Education) – K to 6
 Junior High School (Lower Secondary Education) – 7 to 10
 Senior High School (Upper Secondary Education) – 11 to 12
Primary Education
Generally, the duration of primary school in the Philippines is about six years, and
it is divided into two cycles:
Primary cycle (4 years): Grades 1 to 4
Intermediate cycle (2 years): Grades 5 to 6
Secondary Education
Secondary education in the Philippines is also known as high school, and it
consists of two levels:
Lower Secondary Education (Junior High school): Grades 7 to 10
Upper Secondary Education (Senior High school): Grades 11 to 12
There are different types of junior high school in the Philippines:
General secondary school: Consists of four levels mainly based on the American
curriculum.
Vocational secondary school: Technical and vocational education programme
offered by the government and private institutions.
*Science secondary schools: Research-orientated and specialised public high
school for students with demonstrated maths and sciences skills.
In the new education system in the Philippines, the curriculum gained two
additional years, now referred to as Senior High School. It is now compulsory for
students to attend Senior High School, wherein the courses have two division:
Core curriculum subjects: Consists of 8 learning areas made up of 15 core
courses.
Track subjects: Further divided into Applied Subjects and Specialisation
Subjects. There are 7 Applied Subjects and 9 Specialisation Subjects.
By finishing Senior High School, students graduate equipped with knowledge and
skills necessary for Higher Education or employment.
Higher Education
After finishing the mandatory K-12 programme, students in the Philippines have
the option to pursue Higher Education. There are over 2,000 Higher Education
Institutions (HEIs) in the Philippines, with over 3,000,000 students enrolled in the
courses (SY 2019-2020).
There are different classifications of HEIs in the Philippines:
College or University
Colleges typically offer specialised courses (e.g. Hotel & Restaurant Management,
Nursing, Information Technology).
Universities must meet stringent requirements (e.g. 6 undergraduate courses
consisting of a 4-year liberal arts course, 4-year science and mathematics course,
4-year social sciences course, at least 3 courses that lead to government licensure,
and; 2 graduate-level courses leading to a PhD).
Public or Private
Public colleges and universities are non-sectarian entities publicly funded by the
government.
Private colleges and universities can either be sectarian or non-sectarian, non-profit
or for-profit and are privately managed and funded.
Secular or Religious
Universities in the Philippines can also either be associated with a religious group
or not. It's a type of education and training that focuses on practical skills and
knowledge needed for specific occupations and industries.
Higher Education in the Philippines is then divided into three phases:

1.Undergraduate (Bachelor’s Degree)

2.Postgraduate (Master’s Degree)
3.Doctoral (PhD)

Cost of Education
Public schools and universities in the Philippines are often free or only come with
minimal fees. However, many Filipino parents and ex-pats choose to send their
kids to private schools for better education quality.

Compared to public schools, children in private schools tend to get a more

personal learning experience. On average, the teacher-student ratio in private
schools is only 1:40 at most, making it easier for the teachers to supervise the
students. And unlike public schools, private schools offer a more diverse
curriculum, and they use independent resources.