The Philippines’ History Curriculum: Origins and Repercussions

Abstract

The Philippines, a twice-colonised nation, has an educational system heavily influenced by its former colonisers, Spain and the United States. Spanish occupation introduced compulsory elementary education,
albeit with restrictions based on social class and gender, and established Spanish as the language of the elite. In contrast, American occupation revolutionised the education system by creating a free public school system with English as the medium of instruction. This shift led to the propagation of American ideals and subversion of separatist tendencies. The study of history, despite its importance in understanding a nation's
culture and colonial struggles, is often not prioritised in the education system of the Philippines. The country's linguistic diversity, with an estimated 170 distinct languages, has been impacted by the Latinisation of indigenous scripts during Spanish occupation and the widespread use of English in schools during the American period. The Philippines' education system continues to evolve owing to its dynamic
demographic and political atmosphere, with the efficacy of the system often called into question due to administrative oversight, infrastructural deficiencies, and pervasive corruption. Reforming the current flaws
requires a fundamental understanding of the underlying structure of the system and the importance of proper historical education in the development of a nation.