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Education Overview

Structure:
Education is offered through formal and non-formal systems. The number of years of formal schooling in the Philippines is one of the shortest in the world. The educational ladder has a 6+4+4 structure, (i.e., six years of elementary education, four years of secondary education, and four years of higher education for a degree programme), except for some higher education programmes which require a longer period of study to complete a degree.

Pre-school education is optional; some private organizations and some public schools offer nursery and kindergarten classes. Some private exclusive schools offer seven years of elementary education, while others require pre-school or kindergarten education for admission.

There are two types of secondary school according to curricular offerings: the general high school and vocational high school. General high schools offer the four-year general academic secondary curriculum while vocational high schools offer the same secondary curriculum with additional vocational courses. A regional science high school is established in each of the country’s regions. Science high schools offer an enriched Science, Mathematics, and English curriculum in addition to requirements of the New Secondary Education Curriculum (NESC), which was established in 1992-93.

Education at the higher level is comprised of degree and non-degree programmes. Postsecondary or technical/vocational courses are non-creditable to degree programmes and these cover one month to three years of schooling. The higher education or degree programmes normally require at least four years of schooling. Non-formal education is an alternative delivery system, designed primarily for out-of-school youth and adults and focused on developing literacy and employable or productive skills and citizenship training.

(Source: Facts and Figures ’97, Department of Education, Culture and Sports)

Source: World Education Services.