Education

Filipinos say that the "Spanish gave them their Catholic religion, and the Americans gave them their love of education." 

The Philippine constitution requires the government to provide ten years of free public school for all children.  All the schools in the country are under the supervision of the Department of Education and Culture in Manila.  The school year starts in June and ends in March.  There is a holiday over Christmas and New Year.  Elementary schools comprise Grade 1 through Grade 6.  (Grade 5 is how Filipinos usually both write and say the grade level, rather than fifth grade).  Following that are
four-year high schools. 

Children aged seven through twelve must attend school.  About 95% of Philippine children attend elementary school and 57% attend high school.  Literacy is substantially higher in the Philippines than in other countries in Southeast Asia.  According to the 1990 census, 90% of the people ten years of age and above were literate in one language. 

Most boys and girls attend public school.  These are secular (not religious), although optional
religion classes are taught.  Public schools provide books, paper, and even pencils or pens. 
However, the government does not have as much money for schools as it would like.  Teachers' salary is low and schools are often short of books and supplies. 

Students whose families can afford the costs often attend private schools.  Many of these schools are run by Catholic religious orders.  Tuition at these schools is high.  Most children who go to
private schools are from well-off families.  The best private schools offer more years of schooling such as starting with one or two years of preschool and some extend elementary school to Grade 7.  Beyond high school, the best may also have colleges.

In most schools, the day starts at 7:30 a.m. and everyone stands in the school yard, saluting as the flag is raised.  They say the Philippine pledge of allegiance and sing "Lupang Hinirang," the national anthem.  Then, everyone goes into the classrooms.  They attend school from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.  Each class may have 40 to 50 students.  Classes are taught in English except for Grade 1.  For that year only, teachers use the local language children speak at home.  English and Pilipino are
introduced as subjects.  The main subjects are taught in the morning, and the arts are taught in the
afternoon.  Classes include:  math, science, Philippine history (Araling Panlipunan), government,
social science, civics, Pilipino, music, physical education, and English.  Both boys and girls study home economics, which include cooking, sewing, ideas about family life, vegetable gardening, and sex education.  For school Sports Day, students and teachers divide into teams, which compete in track and field events. 

Some high schools are academic, while others are vocational.  In order to get into college, students must pass the National College Entrance Examination (NCEE).  Higher education range from one- or two-year technical courses to four-year colleges to universities offering master's and doctor's
degree. Most colleges and technical schools are privately owned and operated.  The University of the Philippines is government owned.
 
Doing well in school is important to Filipinos.  Parents instill in their children the belief that
education offers them an opportunity to improve their lives.