Education in the Philippines has undergone several stages of development from

the pre-Spanish times to the present.

ANCIENT TIME education was informal, unstructured, and devoid of methods.

Children were provided more vocational training and less academics (3 Rs) by
their parents and in the houses of tribal tutors.

Spanish Period
The tribal tutors were replaced by the Spanish Missionaries. Education was
religion-oriented. It was for the elite, Education during that period was
inadequate, suppressed, and controlled.

First Republic
The defeat of Spain by American forces paved the way for Aguinaldo's Republic
under a Revolutionary Government. The schools maintained by Spain..

American
A highly centralized public school system was installed in 1901 by the Philippine
Commission by virtue of Act No. 74. The implementation of this Act created a
heavy shortage of teachers so the Philippine Commission authorized the
Secretary of Public Instruction to bring to the Philippines 600 teachers from the
U.S.A. They were the Thomasites

Japanese
Under the Japanese regime, the teaching of Tagalog, Philippine History, and
Character Education was reserved for Filipinos. Love for work and dignity of
labor was emphasized. On February 27, 1945, the Department of Instruction was
made part of the Department of Public Instruction.

Marcos
The trifocal educational system was establish. (MECS, CHED and TESDA)
The trifocal education system refocused MECS’ mandate to basic education
which covers elementary, secondary and non-formal education, including culture
and sports. TESDA now administers the post-secondary, middle-level manpower
training and development while CHED is responsible for higher education.

Aquino
Even though the named was change but the structure as embodied in the order
remained practically unchanged until 1994.
ORGANIZATIONAL CHART

Staffing the Office of the Secretary at the Central Office are:

Five service units
Three bureaus
Which provide assistance in policy, standard and program formulation related to
curriculum instructional materials and human resource development
These are Bureau of Elementary Education (BEE), Bureau of Secondary Education
(BSE) and Bureau of Alternative Education (BAE)
Six centers
Provide technical and administrative support toward the department’s vision
These are NETRC, HNC, NEAP, EDPITAF, NSTIC and IMCS
There are also special offices and other attached support agencies to the department such
as the Technical Education Council (TEC), Philippines High School for the Arts, Literacy
Coordinating Council (LCC) and the Instructional Materials Council (IMC).