As technology proliferate its advancement, education in the Philippines has passed several stages from the pre-Spanish era to the present. Change is inevitable and permanent so the same does happened to my chosen primary school in Deparo Elementary School. The development in this particular school throughout the years since its establishment is rapidly moving to meet the increasing demands for quality education. Deparo Elementary is one of the many public schools in the North District of Caloocan.
It is located in Deparo Road, Barangay 168. The school was created through the implementation of Article 15 Section 2 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution. Whereby it states to: “Establish and maintain a system of free public education in the elementary and high school levels. Without limiting the natural rights of parents to rear their children, elementary education is compulsory for all children of school age. ” (De Leon 2002)
The school aims to “inculcate patriotism and nationalism, foster lover of humanity, respect for human rights, appreciation of the role of national heroes in the historical development of the country, teach the rights and duties of citizenship, strengthen ethical and spiritual values, develop moral character and personal discipline, encourage critical and creative thinking, broaden scientific and technological knowledge, and promote vocational efficiency” as it upholds with ideals stated in Section 3 (2) of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.
The school is run, operated and funded by the Department of Education but the local government also takes responsibility when it comes to extending and renovating the building and providing facilities, infrastructure and materials needed to facilitate education. This research tackles the development of the education in the Philippines with concentration in Deparo Elementary School. Acknowledgment
This research has equipped me with necessary information and additional learning with regards to the development and history of my chosen school, Deparo Elementary School. It is always been a pleasure to conduct study in any primary schools in other country. I can’t wait to see how far this particular school will reach its vision to develop the young minds as future leaders of that country as it endeavours to reach its goal annually. I owe deepest gratitude to Almighty God who has given me strength to cultivate knowledge to finish this research.
I would like to thank to Claire Villanueva for giving updated information about the current status of the school and for providing journals and Mrs Caridad Boutizon who I indebted most for making it possible to have access to the necessary documents of general overview of the school. Without their help, I could not able to finish this research. Analysis The educational system in the Philippines was more in vocational and less in academic. Education started at home and in the houses of tribal tutors. The education during that time is very informal and unstructured.
It was during the Spanish reign when the education was centred in faith which resembles with United Kingdom wherein: 'The conscious object of these early schools, attached to cathedrals and to monasteries, was to train intending priests and monks to conduct and understand the services of the Church, and to read the Bible and the writings of the Christian Fathers. ' (Williams 1965 cited in Gillard’s site 2008) During its early development in Education in the Philippines, the Spanish missionaries were the teachers. Similar to United Kingdom, education during the Spanish era was exclusive to the elite.
Due to the liberalisation that take place through the enactment of Educational Decree of 1863, education is made free for boys and girls in primary education. Under this decree, education was supervised by the municipal and government and there must be at least one primary school in each town. Spanish is the medium of instruction used while United Kingdom used Latin as a medium of instruction. (Gillard 2007) Being fluent in Spanish is considered as the language of the rich during that time. Unfortunately, the system of education during that time was inadequate and suppressed for Filipino students.
Discrimination exists between Filipino (coined as Indio which is synonymous to idiot) and Spanish students. After the fall of Spain, under the leadership of Gen Emilio Aguinaldo, the Constitution of Malolos established a system of free and compulsory elementary education. Under the colonization of Americans, a highly centralized, secular and adequate free education was implemented. The Thomasites, the 600 teachers from United States of America was imported to necessitate the scarcity of teachers in the Philippines. In the Japanese occupation, the education centralized in teaching Civic. Love for work and dignity of labour was emphasized.
Currently, the system of education in the Philippines is similar to that of United States (DepEd 2008). Macro and Micro History Deparo Elementary School resembles the same problems, goals and philosophy of education in United Kingdom. The building is also a major concern as it United Kingdom experience the same problems that most schools especially public schools experienced nowadays specially when it comes to the buildings where students of the present used the same building established from the beginning. There is a peril that the building may collapse. (Plowden 1967 cited in Gillard’s site 2007)
According to my friend who studied there, the ceilings and walls in Deparo Elementary school has a crevice and it took many years before the construction or renovation of the site take in action. That is having an outdated facility. This is one of the main problems that the Department of Education has to solve. Renovation and extension of more buildings and classrooms, adequate materials, advancement in technology, better teachers, etcetera. Throughout the years since its establishment, the school had undergone extension and alteration in the building and site as well. It started as one building at first and the pavement are not cemented.
During rainy days, the students and teachers always upset in walking in a muddy land. It was during late 1990s when the major construction took place. The pavement was cemented and added three buildings to meet the increasing number of students. It was in 1999 when the construction and renovation of old building was completed. By the year 2003, the open court was roofed and barricaded. The garden was expanded. The building near the entrance gate was phased out and turned it into an open space to expand the space especially when the students are in queue during flag ceremonies and certain occasions.
By the end of February 2007, a three-storey building with six classrooms was erected. This is a prioritised project of the Department of Education and was initiated by the Congressman, Hon Oscar Malapitan. As the rapid increase of enrolment every year makes the problem crucial. On the middle of 2007, a basketball court was put up to enhance the talents and promotes sportsmanship among the students as the students of Deparo recently bagged an award in sports at National level divisions. (Boutizon 2008) The school is currently under construction at this moment expanding a new building to accommodate the increasing number of enrolees.
Facilities are continuously upgraded, improved and renovated. Thus learning facilitated inside the classroom as the environment becomes more and more conducive to the students. The traditional problems in education still tried the same solution in solving this problem. Constructing more building sites for school, generate more textbooks, chairs, tables etcetera, continues training for teachers and so on. Still the problems are unsolved. To totally lessen this problem, especially here in the Philippines where the population proliferates, the need for a virtual school must be focused.
The breakthrough in technology is one of the better solutions to address these major problems we are facing nowadays. Inside The school views itself as one of the schools which offers quality education, a child-friendly school; dedicated to bring out the best among the students. To serve the basic needs of the students and teachers, the school set up new programs that will be relevant to the curriculum thus creating special centres of improvements in reflective and creative thinking through seminars and programs.
To awaken the child’s mine and make him socially responsible by discovering and help tap his talents, develop child’s activity, encourage independence and self-confidence through assisting the development of his verbal communication skills. Facility is always a major concern. The increase in the growing number of students is one of the major problems that the school wants to address. Availability and supply of materials like books, computers, chairs and books always a part in the basic plan to attain the quality education and to get advantage that fast-paced technology has to offer.
To impart the school with moral and spiritual core values as to meet the aims of education through counselling. Inside the classroom, traditional practice like materials still in use like using the same blackboard, chalk and manila paper as visual aids. LCD projector is not available. Computers are limited to the Principal’s office. The strategy of teaching is still the same only the reference book has changed. Despite of this, the children are computer literate.
