Curriculum Development

in the Philippines
Fabies P. Almiranez
Reporter
The development of
curriculum in history is
basically founded on five
outstanding motives
Religion
Political
Utilitarian
Mass education
Excellence in
education
Pre-Spanish Curriculum
Before the coming of the Spaniards,
the Filipinos possessed a culture of
their own. They had contacts with
other foreign people from Arabia,
India, China, Indo-China and Borneo.
The diaries of Fr. Chirino attest to
the historical facts that the
inhabitants were civilized people,
possessing their system of writing,
laws and moral standards in a well
organized system of government
They did not have an organized
system of education.
They have the code of Kalantiao and
Maragtas their belief in the
Bathala, the solidarity of family, the
modesty of the women, the childrens
obedience and respect for their
elders and in the valour of the men.
Informal education is what they
have; ideas and facts were acquired
through suggestions, observation,
example and imitation. Theres no
direct teaching, no formal method of
information.
Education was oral, practical and
hands-on.
Spanish-Devised Curriculum
The Spanish curriculum consisted of
3Rs reading, writing and religion.
The schools were parochial or convent
schools.
The main reading materials were the
cartilla, the caton and the catecismo.
The schools were ungraded and the
curriculum organization was
separately subject organization
The method of organization was
predominantly individual memorization
The American-Devised
Curriculum
The curriculum was based on the
ideals and traditions of American and
her hierarchy of values
English was the medium of
instruction
The primary curriculum prescribed in
1904 by the Americans for the
Filipinos consisted of three grades
which provides training in two aspects
Body Training that is consist of
singing, drawing, hard word and
physical education
Mental Training that is compose of
English (reading, writing,
conversation, phonetics and spelling),
nature study and arithmetic
In grade III geography and civic were
added to the list of the subjects
Intermediate Curriculum consisted of
subjects such s arithmetic, geography,
science and english science, plant life,
physiology and sanitation
Collegiate level, normal schools were
opened with a teachers training
curriculum appropriate for elementary
mentors. Its aim was to replace the
soldiers and the Thomasites.
The curriculum organization remained
separate subjects
Group method of teaching was
adopted
A significant aspect of the American
devised curriculum was the
prohibition of compulsory religious
instruction in the public schools
Commonwealth Curriculum
Also known as the period of expansion
and reform in the Philippine
curriculum
American trained Filipino teachers
applied in the Philippines the
educational reforms they learned
from the United States.
The educational leaders expanded the
curriculum by introducing courses in
farming, trade, business science
The curriculum for the training of
elementary school teachers was expanded
by the Bureau of Education by elevating it
from the secondary schools to the
collegiate level, organizing eight regional
normal schools
Commonwealth Act 586, also know as
Educational Act of 1940, reorganized the
elementary school system by eliminating
Grade VII and providing for the double-
single session in which elementary pupils
attended classes for one-half day only.
Japanese Devised
Curriculum
They introduced many changes in the
curriculum by including Nipongo and
abolishing English as a medium of
instruction and as a subject
All textbook were censored and
revised
The Japanese-Devised curriculum
caused a blackout in the Philippine
education and impeded the
educational progress
Liberation Period
Curriculum
Great experiments in the community
school idea and the use of the
vernacular in the first two grades of
the primary school as a medium of
instruction were some of them
Some reforms were merely
extensions of the educational trends
in previous decades
Others were implemented in response
to circumstances in the culture
And still others were results of
research and experimentation in
education and related disciplines
An experiment worth mentioning that
led to a change in the Philippine
education and community
collaboration pioneered by Jose V.
Aguilar
The community school concept had
for its goal the improvement of pupil
and community life through the
curriculum
Due to its successful implementation the
community school concept was given
official cognizance by the Bureau of Public
Schools in June 1949
Another experiment led by Aguilar was the
use of the vernacular as a medium of
instruction in the first two grades of the
primary school. He believed that the
primary school would give the pupils a
leverage on social, political and economic
forces and for those who go through these
grades, the vernacular based may promote
better learning in English
The crucial role of instructional materials
in the promotion of nationalism is now well
organized
According to the responsible education
leaders, we are in great need of
instructional materials that will give
emphasis on the following areas:
The improvement of home industries so
that they will be patronized
The appreciation of the services of great
men and women of our country
Preservation of our cultural heritage
The Implications For Philippine
Education
Education dramatically changed in
terms of goals, focus and
methodology every new conqueror
forcibly took control of our country
Period Goal Focus Method Course of
Study
General
Characteristi
c
Pre Hispanic
Era
Integration of
individuals into
tribes
Customs and
traditions
Oral Immersion None Not Formal;
community
based; no
educational
system
Spanish Era Spread of
Christianity
religion Catechetical
instruction; use
of corporal
punishment;
rote
memorization
Not prescribed;
flexible; not
centralized
No grade level;
church based;
no educational
system
American Era Spread of
Democracy
Academic
English language
and Literature
Democratic
English as a
medium of
instruction
Prescribed
uniform;
centralized
Formal;
structured;
existence of an
educational
system
Japanese Era Spread of the
New Asian
Order
Principles of
the New Order
Rote
memorization;
use of threat
and punishment
Prescribed;
uniform;
centralized
Propaganda
tool;
repressively
anti-American
and anti-
British;
military-backed
existence of an
educational
system
Education After 1946
When filipinos regain our sovereignty on
July 4, 1946 there were no immediate
changes instituted in the educational
system
In 1955, the Board of National
Education, approved a set of new
objectives that reflect desire to mold
and develop the youth into useful and
upright citizens that integrated
nationalistic and democracy inspired
educational system
The List of Objectives
To inculcate moral and spiritual values
inspired by the abiding faith in God
To develop an enlightened, patriotic, useful
and upright citizenry in a democratic
society
To instill habits of industry and thrift, and
to prepare individuals to contribute to the
economic development and wise
conservation of the nations natural
resources
To maintain family solidarity, to improve
community life, to perpetuate all that is
desirable in our national heritage, and to
serve the cause of the world peace.
To promote the sciences, arts and
letters for the enrichment of life and
the recognition of the dignity of the
human person