Introduction
The education system in the Philippines is similar to that of the United States. It starts at around the age of four when Filipino children find their way to a public school. The systems start from a nursery to Kindergarten which is then followed by primary school level that starts at around the age of 6 to 7 years old. After primary education, four years in a secondary school follow after which the students sit for College Entrance Examinations (CEE). It takes 3 to 5 years for a student to get a college degree or a diploma in the Philippines. Other types of school that do exist include; Preparatory school, private School, Science High School, and even international schools, Quisumbing, L. R. (2003).
The education system in the Philippines
An example of someone who has gone through the system is my partner Nada Ramirez who finished elementary and high school in Manila, Philippines. In 1980 she graduated from a private college as an Industrial Engineering major. She describes the education system in the Philippines as being similar to that in the United States. Like other Filipino children, she entered nursery school at the age of four. She then joined an elementary (primary) school that consists of six levels sub-divided into two levels; Elementary-level 1, which includes the first three levels, and Intermediate-level, which includes the last three levels.
Ramirez said that Primary education in the Philippines covers a wide curriculum. The core subjects include Mathematics, English, and Filipino. Other subjects include Sciences, Music, Art, Physical Education, Basic Computer, Home Economics, and Health. She did very well at primary school, and the most she liked was home economic and health courses. Ramirez learned English at primary school because the teaching language in all local schools is English. She noted that Filipino is considered only as a second language. All primary-level students generally graduate with knowledge of two or three languages. Like other Primary school students, she sat for the National Elementary Achievement Test that is intended to be a measure of a school’s competence and not a predictor of the student’s success in Secondary school.
She is proud of the fact that secondary education in the Philippines is mostly based on the American schooling system. It consists of four levels with each level focusing on a particular subject. Also termed as a High school, the first year of High school includes five core subjects; Algebra 1, Integrated Science, English I, Filipino I, and Philippine History I. The second year of High school involves taking the following subjects; Geometry, Biology, English II, Filipino II, and Asian History. In the third year, Trigonometry, Chemistry, American Literature, Filipino III, and World History, and Geography are the core subjects while in the final fourth year, students are required to take Calculus, Physics, World Literature, Filipino IV, and Economics. Other minor subjects include Health, Advanced Computer, Music, Arts, Technology and Home Economics, and Physical Education, Quisumbing, L. R. (2003)
Chinese schools in the Philippines add language and cultural subjects. At the same time, Secondary schools usually add some Business and Accountancy courses, while high schools in Science have Biology, Chemistry, and Physics on every level. Ramirez with other Secondary students sat for the National Secondary Achievement Test.
After finishing secondary education, students have a choice of either continuing their education by taking two or three years of vocational courses or going to college or university. Ramirez did not enter a Technical/ Vocational school that offers practical training in the Philippines. Technical schools also do offer a short program or two year – courses on technology courses like automotive technology, electronic technology, nursing aide, hotel and restaurant management, and computer technology. A certificate of successful completion or diploma is awarded to those students who complete these courses.
University education in the Philippines comprises the tertiary level of education. These are tertiary institutions (Colleges) that typically offer specialized courses, for example, in Science or in Liberal Arts, as well as Universities that house several constituent colleges or institutes, each offering academic degree programs of a particular type, Quisumbing, L. R. (2003)
Conclusion
The education system in the Philippines is not different from the United States system. Both systems share a great deal of similarity in that they all start from nursery-Kindergarten which is followed by the primary school level secondary school education and finally a college certificate/diploma or degree is earned from a tertiary institute; college or university.
References
Quisumbing, L. R. (2003). “Towards Quality Education for All-Round Human Development.”: Journal of Education for International Understanding 164.