Tag Archives: Philippines

According to collegesanduniversitiesinusa, the educational history of the Philippines dates back to the 16th century when Spanish colonizers introduced a system of formal education to the islands. Under this system, primary education was provided free of charge and was available to both boys and girls. However, higher education was only available to male students and was limited to those who could afford it. During the American colonial period, which lasted from 1898-1946, public schools were established throughout the country. These schools provided free primary and secondary education as well as vocational training. In addition, universities were established in Manila and other major cities in order to provide higher education. In 1947, following independence from the United States, President Manuel Roxas signed Republic Act No. 1425 which mandated free and compulsory elementary schooling for all Filipino children aged 6-12 years old. This law also allowed for scholarships for students who wished to pursue higher education at universities or vocational training schools. The government also began investing heavily in teacher training programs in order to improve the quality of education in the Philippines. In the 1960s, the government passed a number of laws designed to further increase access to education. These included the establishment of free public high schools, expansion of university scholarships and grants, and compulsory secondary education for all Filipinos aged 13-18 years old. In addition, several new universities were opened throughout the country in order to provide more options for higher education. In 1974, President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law and suspended many civil rights including freedom of speech and assembly. During this period, public education was greatly affected as many schools were closed or had their budgets cut drastically. However, Marcos did invest heavily in technical and vocational schools in order to provide employment opportunities for Filipino youth. In 1987, Corazon Aquino assumed power following a popular revolt against Marcos’ dictatorship. Aquino sought to restore democracy and civil liberties as well as improve access to education for all Filipinos. She increased the budget for public schools and universities and introduced programs such as student loan subsidies in order to make higher education more accessible for students from low-income families. Today, access to education has greatly improved since the end of Marcos’ regime with nearly all children attending primary school and over 90% attending secondary school. In addition, there are now over 500 universities throughout the country providing higher education opportunities for students from all backgrounds. Although much progress has been made on improving educational opportunities in Philippines there is still room for improvement with regards to quality of instruction and teacher training programs. The foreign policy of Philippines in 2009 was largely centered around strengthening relations with its Asian neighbors. The Philippines sought to build stronger economic ties with countries in the region, particularly through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This included increasing investment and trade opportunities with countries like China, Japan, and South Korea. The government also aimed to create a more unified approach to regional security issues such as piracy, terrorism, and climate change. In addition, the Philippines worked to build closer ties with other major powers such as the United States, Russia, and India in order to increase their presence in global affairs. The country also sought to become a part of international organizations such as the United Nations and World Trade Organization. Finally, efforts were taken by the government to protect Filipino citizens abroad by encouraging them to register at Philippine embassies when travelling overseas. Check militarynous for Philippines Military.