EDUCATION LAWS

History of the
Philippine
Educational System
Educational System During Spanish Period

• Focus of educational system during the

Spanish times was formal.
• Schools focused on the Christian
Doctrines.
• There was a separate school for boys and
girls.
Educational Decree 1863
• First educational system for students in the
country was established
• Spanish schools started accepting Filipino
students.
• The Normal School was also established which
gave men the opportunity to study a three-year
teacher education for the primary level.
Education during the Spanish Regime and Its
Colonial Effects to the Filipinos
• The friars controlled the educational system during the
Spanish times.
• The missionaries took charge in teaching, controlling and
maintaining the rules and regulations imposed to the
students.
• The schools before were exclusive for the
Spaniards and wealthy Filipinos

• Introduction of corporal punishment.

Schools Built By the Spaniards
• The Dominicans also made a name as they established
one of the best universities in the Philippines, the
University of Santo Tomas, that was opened in 1611. In
1630, the Dominicans established another university, the
"San Juan de Letran" for the orphaned boys.
• "Colegio de Santa Potenciana" was the first school and
college for girls. This was opened in 1589. Following the
birth of the first school for women, Colegio de Santa Isabel
opened in 1632. The religious congregations also
established schools for the girls called "beaterio". The so-
called "beaterio" was meant for orphaned girls who could
not afford to educate themselves. The subjects taught
were housekeeping, cooking, sewing and embroidery-
making, and others intended for good housekeeping.
 Effects of Colonial Education in the
Philippines
• The effect of education to the Filipinos was only
compelled to the friars' influences from their lessons
based on the Christian Doctrines or teachings.
Indeed, the friars were effective in evangelizing the
Catholic religion to the Filipinos.
• One major failure of the educational system of the
religious congregations was the withholding of the
Filipinos to learn other bodies of knowledge. Besides
limiting education to the teaching of Spanish, Latin,
and the Filipino languages, the teaching of Religion
was also given emphasis. Thus, the teaching of
Mathematics and Science were neglected.
• In entirety, education during the
Spanish regime was privileged only to
Spanish students.
• Philippine education was only a means
to remain in the Philippines as
colonizers.
• Life styles became patterned from the
Spaniards.
 Educational System During American
Period

• Like the Spaniards, the Americans

brought many changes in their 45
years of reign in the country. Until
now, these American influences
can still be seen in our lifestyle or
way of life.
 American Period
• Commonwealth provided free education in public schools
in accordance with the 1935 constitution.

• The spread of democracy and formation of good citizens

including the rights and responsibilities of the people were
the focus of American education in the country.
 American Education
• Volunteer Filipino soldiers became the first
teachers of the Filipinos. Part of their mission was
to build classrooms in every place where they
were assigned.
• August 1901 - 600 teachers called "Thomasites"
arrived.
American government gave importance to
Education
• Opening of colleges by the Americans

• Philippine Normal School in 1901 (now a university);

National University (1901);,University of Manila
(1914); Philippine Women University (1919); and Far
Eastern University (1933).
• The University of the Philippines was also founded in
1908.
 Japanese Occupation
• Education changed in 1942.

• To stop depending on western countries like the U.S.,

and Great Britain. Promote and enrich the Filipino
culture.
• To recognize that the Philippines is a part of the
Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere so that the
Philippines and Japan will have good relations.
• To learn and adopt Nippongo and to stop using the
English language.
Educational System in the Present Period

• Philippine education is patterned after the

American system, with English as the
medium of instruction.
• Schools are classified into public
(government) or private (non-government).
History of DepEd
 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 for more than
three centuries were closed for the time being but
were reopened on August 29, 1898 by the
Secretary of Interior.
• A system of free and compulsory elementary
education was established by the Malolos
Constitution.
 American period
• After President William Mc Kinley’s appointment
of William Howard Taft as the head of a
commission that passed Education Act No. 34 on
January 21, 1901
• This established the Department of Public
Instruction. The latter was then given the task of
establishing a public school system throughout
the Philippines.
• The Taft Commission also authorized the further
deployment of 1,000 more educators from the
U.S. to the Philippines
 Act No. 74

• A highly centralized public school system was

installed in 1901 by the Philippine Commission

• This established the barangay schools throughout

the country
 Act No. 1870
• In 1908, the Philippine Legislature approved Act
No. 1870 which created the University of the
Philippines.

• The Reorganization Act of 1916 provided the

Filipinization of all department secretaries except
the Secretary of Public Instruction.
 Executive Order No. 94

• The Department of Instruction was

changed to Department of
Education.
• During this period, the regulation
and supervision of public and private
schools belonged to the Bureau of
Public and Private Schools.
 Marcos era
• In 1972, the Department of Education became the
Department of Education and Culture.
• Following a referendum of all barangays in the
Philippines from 10–15 January 1973, President
Marcos ratified the 1973 Constitution by Proclamation
1102.
 1973 Constitution
The 1973 Constitution set out the three
fundamental aims of education in the
Philippines, to:

• foster love of country;

• teach the duties of citizenship; and
• develop moral character, self discipline,
and scientific, technological and vocational
efficiency
First taste of Decentralization
On 24 September 1972, by PD No 1, the Department of
Education, Culture and Sports was decentralized with
decision-making shared among thirteen regional offices.

• In 1978, by PD No 1397, the Department of Education and

Culture became the Ministry of Education and Culture.
Education Act of 1982
• The provided for an integrated system of
education covering both formal and non-formal
education at all levels.
• Section 29 of the Act sought to upgrade
education institutions' standards to achieve
quality education, through voluntary accreditation
for schools, colleges, and universities.
• Sections 16 & 17 upgraded the obligations and
qualifications required for teachers and
administrators.
 1987 Constitution
• On 2 February 1987, a new Constitution for the
Philippines was ratified. Section 3, Article XIV of
the 1987 Constitution contains the ten
fundamental aims of education in the Philippines.

• In 1987 by virtue of Executive Order No.

117, the Ministry of Education, Culture
and Sports, again became the
Department of Education, Culture and
Sports .
 Republic Act 6655
• On 26 May 1988 Congress enacted the Free
Public Secondary Education Act of 1988, which
mandated free public secondary education
 Republic Act 7722
• Creation of the Higher Education Act of 1994,
creating the Commission on Higher
Education(CHED), which assumed the functions
of the Bureau of Higher Education, and
supervises tertiary degree programs.
 Republic Act 9155
• In August 2001, the Governance of Basic Education Act
was passed transforming the name of the Department of
Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) to the Department
of Education (DepEd)

• Redefining the role of field offices (regional offices, division

offices, district offices and schools). RA 9155 provides the
overall framework for (i) school head empowerment by
strengthening their leadership roles and (ii) school-based
management within the context of transparency and local
accountability.
Official name of the DepED, Thru
the years…
• 1863
• Superior Commission of Primary Instruction
• Chairman
• Educational Decree of 1863

• 1901-1916
• Department of Public Instruction
• General Superintendent
• Act. No. 74 of the Philippine Commission, Jan. 21, 1901

• 1916-1942
• Department of Public Instruction
• Secretary
• Organic Act Law of 1916 (Jones Law)
Official name of the DepED, Thru
the years…
• Department of Education, Health and Public Welfare
• Commissioner
• Renamed by the Japanese Executive Commission, June 11, 1942

• 1944
• Department of Education, Health and Public Welfare
• Minister

• Renamed by Japanese Sponsored Philippine Republic

• 1944
• Department of Public Instruction
• Secretary
• Renamed by Japanese Sponsored Philippine Republic
Official name of the DepED, Thru
the years…
• 1945-1946
• Department of Public Instruction and Information
• Secretary
• Renamed by the Commonwealth Government

• 1946-1947
• Department of Instruction
• Secretary
• Renamed by the Commonwealth Government

• 1947-1975
• Department of Education
• Secretary
• E.O. No. 94 October 1947 (Reorganization Act of 1947)
Official name of the DepED, Thru
the years…
• 1975-1978
• Department of Education and Culture
• Secretary
• Proc. No. 1081, September 24, 1972

• 1978-1984
• Ministry of Education and Culture
• Minister
• P.D. No. 1397, June 2, 1978

• 1984-1986
• Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports
• Minister
• Education Act of 1982
Official name of the DepED, Thru
the years…
• 1987-1994
• Department of Education, Culture and Sports
• Secretary
• E.O. No. 117. January 30, 1987

• 1994-2001
• Department of Education, Culture and Sports
• Secretary
• RA 7722 and RA 7796, 1994 Trifocalization of Education
Management

• 2001 - present
• Department of Education
• Secretary
• RA9155, August 2001 (Governance of Basic Education Act)
 Evolution of
Education Laws
• Batas Pambansa 232
• Republic Act 4670
• Family Code of the
Philippines
• Civil Code of the Philippines
• Republic Act 7610
• Republic Act 9344
• Republic Act 7877
• Republic Act 9165
• Republic Act 5546
• Republic Act 7836
 Republic Act No. 4670
MAGNA CARTA FOR
PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS

Defines the Rights and

Privileges of Teachers
It is still a valid law as
pronounced by the
Supreme Court in Emin
Republic Act No. 7836

PHILIPPINE TEACHERS
PROFESSIONALIZATION ACT
OF 1994

“Only those who are

registered with the PRC
as professional teachers
are allowed to teach in
the Philippines”
Education Act of 1982
• malpractice, gross incompetence, gross
negligence or serious ignorance of the practice
of the teaching profession

• Unjustified or willful failure to attend to seminars,

workshops, conferences

• Teachers and school heads are deemed persons

in authority while in the discharge of lawful
duties
Executive Order No. 209

FAMILY CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES

• Liability of school,
administrators and teachers
for acts or omissions of the
students.

• Prohibition from inflicting

corporal punishment upon a
child. (Art. 233)
Republic Act No. 386

CIVIL CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES

• Teachers shall be liable for the

death or injury suffered by their
minor children if they are negligent

• The teacher is liable if the student

was under his control, supervision
and influence
Doctrine of Attractive Nuisance
One who maintains on his premises
dangerous instrumentalities or
appliances of a character likely to
attract children in play and who fails to
exercise ordinary care to prevent
children from playing therewith is
liable to a child of tender years who is
injured thereby, even if the child is
technically a trespasser in the
premises
RA 5546 amending RA 4206

Prohibition on the sale of tickets

and/or the collection of
contributions for whatever project
or purpose from students

In relation to the PTA collections?

Teachers and students have the right to be free from
involuntary contributions, except those approved by their
organization. (BP 232)
Republic Act No. 7610

• "Child abuse" - refers to the maltreatment,

whether habitual or not, of the child
which includes any of the following:

• (1) Psychological and physical abuse, neglect,

cruelty, sexual abuse and emotional
maltreatment;
• (2) Any act by deeds or words which debases,
degrades or demeans the intrinsic worth and
dignity of a child as a human being;
• (3) Unreasonable deprivation of his
basic needs for survival, such as
food and shelter; or

• (4) Failure to immediately give

medical treatment to an injured
child resulting in serious
impairment of his growth and
development or in his permanent
incapacity or death.
ANTI-SEXUAL HARASSMENT ACT

Sexual Harassment- is an act, or a

series of acts, involving any unwelcome
sexual advance, request or demand for
a sexual favor, or other verbal or
physical behavior of a sexual nature,
committed by a government employee
or official in a work-related, training or
education related environment
COMPREHENSIVE DANGEROUS
DRUGS ACT

School heads, supervisors and teachers

shall be deemed persons in authority and,
as such, the law empowers them to
apprehend, arrest or cause the
apprehension or arrest of any
person who shall violate any of the said
provisions, pursuant to Section 5, Rule
113 of the Rules of Court.
JUVENILE JUSTICE AND WELFARE
SYSTEM ACT OF 2006
• "Child in Conflict with the Law" refers to a child who is
alleged as, accused of, or adjudged as, having
committed an offense under Philippine laws.

• Schools shall provide adequate, necessary and

individualized educational schemes for children
manifesting difficult behavior and children in conflict
with the law. In cases where children in conflict with
the law are taken into custody or detained in
rehabilitation centers, they should be provided the
opportunity to continue learning under an alternative
learning system
The more laws,
the more crimes