Education in the Philippines
Education in the Philippines is provided by public and private schools, colleges, universities, and other educational institutions. All of these are subject to the oversight of the Department of Education.
Elementary and Junior High School
There are over 12,000 elementary schools and 25,000 junior high school classrooms in the country. This means that there are plenty of options when it comes to finding a suitable school for your children, especially if you are planning on moving to the Philippines as an expat with young children.
The Department of Education oversees all aspects of basic education in the country, including both elementary and secondary schooling. It has a central office in Manila and field offices throughout the country that oversee basic education policy.
Students are required to attend public elementary and junior high schools, free of charge. During these years, students are taught the core subjects of English, Science, Filipino, and Araling Panlipunan (Social Studies).
Senior High School
Once they have finished junior high school, students automatically enroll in senior high school. This level is also free of charge for all students.
This level covers six years, from grades 7 to 12. The curriculum is divided into two parts - the exploratory, or general high school, and the specialized, or vocational high school.
In addition to the regular subjects, students take a variety of electives that focus on a particular topic or theme. For example, in a vocational high school, students may learn a certain trade or craft.
There are a number of specialized high schools in the Philippines, focusing on different topics and fields. For instance, there are a number of art high schools that offer more specialized courses than the ones available in standard high schools. There are also a number of special science high schools that focus on the sciences.
Despite these differences in the curriculum, all high schools teach the same general core subjects. These subjects are based on a spiral progression that is taught over the course of the entire 6 years.
Graduation and Advanced Subjects
For the general high school level, a student must have a grade of at least 75 out of 100 in all subjects and a cumulative year-end average of at least 90 to graduate. This is a much higher achievement than in the past and demonstrates how the education system has been changing since 2012.
In addition to the traditional high school curriculum, there are also more advanced subjects that are taught. These include subjects that prepare students for careers in the sciences, technology, or pre-engineering.
Higher Education
Many students choose to pursue higher education in the Philippines after graduating from high school. There are a number of public and private universities in the country, most of which are free to attend and come with minimal fees.
These universities are generally highly ranked and are recognized by the Philippine government, allowing students to apply for financial aid or scholarships. They also have excellent faculty and are known to provide a high-quality educational experience for students.
