Republic of the Philippines

State Universities and Colleges

GUIMARAS STATE COLLEGE
GRADUATE SCHOOL

Subject: Ed. 214 – Philosophy of Education

Reporter: Keshia Z. Calivara
Topic: The Philippine Philosophy Education
Dewey’s Educational Philosophy and Philippine Education
Character Development as a Aim Of Dewey’s Philosophy of Education

THE PHILOSOPHY OF PHILIPPINE EDUCATION

Introduction
Dr. John Dewey (1859-1950) is an outstanding American Philosopher and educator.
He was born on October 20, 1859 and graduated from the University of Vermont in 1879
and received his Ph.D. Degree from John Hopkins University in 1884. He was a professor
of Philosophy in University of Minnesota in 1868 and at the University of Michigan from
1889 -1894.1
He had authored several philosophies of education which are proven tested and
applied by most educational institutions. His philosophies provided great effects and
changes in the field of education not only in the Philippines but also in other countries. As
a philosopher, he is an expert pragmatist, and as educator, he is known as progressivist or
democratic educator. His philosophical beliefs have been described as (1) Empiricism or
naturalism which means that everything begins and ends with an experience and nature.
(2) Experimentalism which stresses the importance of experiment in achieving the truth (3)
Instrumentalism means that man can think and can discover new ways in of responding to
a new changed of environment.
(4) Pragmatism asserts that man and nature are inter-independent. Nature is not
something merely to be accepted and enjoyed by man, it is something to be modified and
experimentally controlled. 2
There are several concepts also derived from these philosophies which influenced the
educational system and contributed in improving and directing the education to a new level
of understanding. Dewey provided a strong foundation in the process of developing
education. His educational philosophy recognizes the importance of the principle of
transfer in training or the use of past experiences in developing the continuous growth of
the learners.
Philippines as one of the countries that put emphasis in the educational philosophies by
Dewey brought positive outcomes and results through experimentation and experience.
His philosophies became an integral part of the educational system in the country.
 PRE-SPANISH PERIOD
Education was informal, unstructured, and devoid of methods. Children were provided
more vocational training and less academics (3Rs) by their parents and in the houses of
tribal tutors.
SPANISH ERA
The tribal tutors were replaced by the Spanish Missionaries. Education: religion-oriented.
for the elite. provided for the establishment of at least one primary school for boys and
girls in each town under the responsibility of the municipal government. (Educational
Decree 1863) >Establishment of normal school for male teachers under the supervision on
the Jesuits. >Primary instruction was free and the teaching of Spanish was compulsory.
>Education during that period was inadequate, suppressed and controlled.
AMERICAN ERA
Education should be universal and free all regardless of sex, age, religion, and socio-
economic status of the individual. The means of giving people an orientation towards a
democratic way of life. Carried out by the civilian teachers of English called “Thomasites.”
JAPANESE OCCUPATION
Education was at its nadir, and was used as an instrument for indoctrinating the people to
embrace Japanese Ideologies. Educational system under the Japanese military government
were articulated in Executive Order No. 2 issued on Feb. 17, 1942, by the Commander-in-
Chief of the Japanese Imperial Army.
PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE
The educational philosophy was in accordance with the provisions of Article XIV Section 5
of the 1935 Constitution which provides that: All educational institutions shall be under the
supervision and subject to the regulation by the State. The government shall establish and
maintain a complete and adequate system of public education, and shall provide at least
free primary instruction and citizenship training to adult citizens. All schools shall aim moral
character, and vocational efficiency and to reach the duties of citizenship. Optional
religious instruction shall be maintained by law. Universities established by the State shall
enjoy academic freedom. The state shall create scholarship in arts, sciences, and letters for
especially gifted citizens.
PROCLAMATION OF MARTIAL LAW
As far as education concerned, the Marcos Constitution of 1973, Article XV Sec. 8 states
that:
>All educational institutions shall be under the supervision and subject to the regulation by
the State. The State shall establish and maintain a complete, adequate and integrated
system of education relevant to the goals of national development, All institutions shall aim
to inculcate love for country, teach the duties of citizenship, and develop moral character,
personal discipline and scientific and technological and vocational efficiency. The State
shall maintain a system of free public elementary education and in areas where finances
permit, establish and maintain at least up to the secondary level. The state shall provide
citizenship and vocational training to adult citizens and out-of-school youth, and create and
maintain scholarships for poor and deserving students.
EDUCATION ACT OF 1982
This was an act that provided for the establishment and maintenance of an integrated
system of education. Sec. 2, This act shall apply to and govern both formal and non-formal
system in public and private schools in all levels of the entire educational system. Sec. 3.
Declaration of Basic Policy.
CHAPTER 2 Rights Sec. 8. Rights of Parents Sec. 9. Right of Students in School. Sec. 10.
Rights of all School Personnel. Sec. 11. Special Rights and/or Privileges of Teaching or
Academic Staff Sec. 12. Special Rights of School Administration. Sec. 13. Rights of
Schools.
CHAPTER 3 Duties and Obligations Sec. 14. Duties of Parents. Sec. 15. Duties and
Responsibilities of Students. Sec. 16. Teacher's Obligations. Sec. 17. School
Administrators' Obligations. Sec. 18. Obligations of Academic Non-Teaching Personnel.
MAINTENANCE OF QUALITY EDUCATION
The Education Act of 1982 has provided measures to maintain quality education. One of
them is voluntarily accreditation. Voluntarily accreditation refers to the recognition of an
educational program or, where applicable, of an educational institution as processing
certain standards of quality or excellence. Programs or institutions desiring to be
accredited generally have to pass through these stages:
>Applicant status – a stage where an institution is officially listed by the accrediting agency
as an applicant institution for a maximum period of three years.
>Candidate status – the period where an institution has already completed its preliminary
survey and starts preparing for formal survey. This usually lasts until the institutional is
granted accreditation status which takes place between one or two years.
>Member institution – this distinction is granted to an institution who satisfies all the
requirements for accreditation. This initial accreditation status lasts for three years. Several
Accrediting Agencies
PAASCU - Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, College and Universities
ACSC-AA - Association of Christian Schools and Colleges – Accrediting Association
PACU-COA - Philippine Association of College and Universities-Commission on
Accreditation.
These existing accrediting agencies comprise the Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the
Philippines ( FAAP ),
AQUINO ADMINISTRATION EDSA People Power Revolution” on February 22-23, 1986
>1987 Constitution which provided the present philosophy of education in the Philippines
as stated in Article XIV, Sec. 3 (2) thus: All educational institution shall inculcate patriotism
and nationalism, foster love 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 provide vocational efficiency.
THE 1987 CONSTITUTION OF THE PHILIPPINES
The 1987 Constitution provides in Article XIV, Section 1 that the State shall protect and
promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate
steps to make such education accessible to all.
ARTICLE XIV (1987 CONSTITUTION) EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, ARTS,
CULTURE AND SPORTS Section 1. The State shall protect and promote the right of all
citizens to quality education at all levels, and shall take appropriate steps to make such
education accessible to all.
Sec. 2 (1) System of education relevant to society.
Sec. 2 (2) Free public education
Sec. 2 (3) Scholarship program
Sec. 2 (4) Non-formal, informal, and indigenous learning
Sec. 2 (5) Special education and adult education
Sec. 3 (1) Optional religious instruction.
Sec. 4 (1) State power over educational institutions.
Sec. 4 (2) Ownership and administration of schools
Sec. 4 (3) Tax exemptions
Sec. 5 (1) Regional and sectoral needs
Sec. 5 (2) Academic freedom
Sec. 5 (2) Right of every citizen to select a profession.
Sec. 5 (2) Right of teachers to professional growth.

EDUCATION FOR ALL (EFA)

President Aquino has declared the period of 1990 – 1999 as the “Decade of Education for
All” >Education for All encompasses four major programs >Institutionalization of Early
Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) >Universalization of Quality Primary Education
(UQPE) >Eradication of Illiteracy >Continuing Education and Development
MEETING THE GOALS OF EDUCATION FOR ALL
>Due to the sustained implementation of education reforms, the Philippines is steadily
moving towards the Education for All (EFA) goal by 2015, the deadline set by the United
Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). >The Six EFA goals
which Philippines has committed itself include: >expanding early childhood care and
education; >providing free and compulsory education for all; >providing learning and life
skill to young people and adults; >increasing adult literacy by 50 percent; >achieving
gender equality by 2015; and >improving the quality of education.
The Philippines has been making sustained progress in education in the last few years.
After a temporary decline, the Philippines has posted modest but consistent gains since
2006. To increase enrolment and retention in school the education department has also
strictly implemented the “no collection” and “no mandatory uniform policy” Some of the
measures taken to address drop-outs 1. Project Reach which enlists the help of local
government units in finding the school children, reaching out to them, and keeping them in
school. 2. Other schemes which provide learners with an array of alternative delivery
modes of learning for them to complete elementary and high school are:
*Drop-Out Reduction Program (DORP)
*MISOSA or Modified In-School and
*Off-School Approach and IMPACT or Instructional Management by Parents Community
and Teachers.
Another intervention that has improved school retention is the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino
Program (4Ps) as centerpiece of the government’s poverty reduction measure. Other
programs currently being implemented by the government under its poverty reduction
thrusts which have direct impact on health and education are the Food for School and
Essential Health Care Package which was recently recognized internationally.
THE RAMOS ADMINISTRATION ONWARDS TO PHILIPPINES 2000
President Ramos stressed that the delivery of quality education to all the people as
mandated by the Constitution is the chief means to empower the masses. In another state
of the nation address the President emphasized his educational platform, summarized in
these statements: If we are to develop, we must invest in our people . . . The most
profitable human investment is in basic education . . . We have to learn to talk of growth
not in terms of statistics, but in terms of people . . . And invest in people, for it will take
110 years to eradicate illiteracy, according to the findings of the department of education,
if government does it alone.”

Dr. John Dewey’s Educational Philosophy in the Philippine Setting

Dr. John Dewey’s principle was actually an outgrowth or product of Rousseau’s principles
of growth, pupil activity and individualism; Pestalozzi’s philosophy of discipline of sympathy
and his principle that learning proceeds from the known to the unknown and his doctrine
of interest; Froebel’s idea of learning by doing which depended upon self-principled
activities or creative development; Findings in the study of G. Stanley hall which stimulated
an interest in child nature.
Under the Martial Law the schools, public and private, have been vitally affected in many
other significant ways. After Marcos regime, there were reorganization in the government
structure and even in the functions of the educational system. There were several revisions
and improvements, new orders and laws that made the education better and uplift the
aims of the education.
Under the presidential Decree No. 6-A, it is hereby declared a policy of the state to
maintain the highest quality of education for purposes of national development. The P.D.
No. 6-A states to be the policy of the government to insure, within the context of a free
and democratic system, maximum contribution of the educational system to the attainment
of national goals.7
In relation to this, the educational philosophy of Dr. John Dewey is expressed in the
following terms:
(a) Education is life and not preparation for life which is based on the idea that education
is not learning alone but it is living.
(b) Promoting the total growth of the child is made the aim of education which is based on
the philosophy that growth means growth in knowledge, habits, skills, and abilities. It is a
continuous process.
(c) Learning by experiencing or reacting or doing in which learning and teaching must
utilize the theory of self activity.
d) Recognizes individual differences based on the principle that each individual is unique in
which calls for the adjustment of subject matter and activities given to learners.
(e) Evaluation is made an important part of teaching and learning.
(f) Thinking and reasoning are stressed in classroom activities based on the theory of self-
activity.
(g) Use of academic freedom in the classroom activities. This concept calls for the use of
democratic principle in teaching and learning.
(h) Education is more practical and functional. The instructional method must also gear in
the social, political and economic aspect of the individual’s life.8
Dr. John Dewey, who is an advocate of the philosophy of pragmatism, might simply be
called experimentalist because he insists that ideas must always be tested by experiment.
He believed that no knowledge is ever certain that is not subject to new evidence which
might result from experimentation and experience. He applied these basic concepts to
nearly every aspect of philosophy and education. His experimental belief which was carried
over into his educational philosophy became the basis for what is usually described as
progressive education. His influence on public schools has been great in the Philippines.
In addition the aims of education under the New Society are based on pragmatic,
experimentalism or approach of Dr. Dewey. The school under the New Society utilizes the
following educational concepts of the said philosopher:
(1) The nature of the child is made the center of educative process. This means that
the child’s needs, interests, abilities and purposes must be taken into consideration. The
child is viewed as an active element whose purpose is to live and grow.
(2) The theory of self-activity is made the center or basis of learning. The new
education stresses learning by doing or experiencing and experimenting. The school is
converted into a living and creative influence , producing self directed reference.
(3) The development of personality is made the primary aim of the New Education. The
aim of the new education is to produce a well-balanced, well integrated and socially
adjusted personality. The cooperation between the teacher and the student are important
element in the development of personality.
 (4) Activity program is the core of the curriculum. This is based on Dr. John Dewey’s
concept that education is life and a social process. Example of school activities are field
trip, report, group activity, games, observation, experiments, cultural activities, on–the-job
training, programs and project.
(5) Socialized teaching and learning are utilized. This is patterned from the concept that
education is a social process. Teacher and student work together to execute classroom
activities.
(6) Individual differences of the pupils are recognized not by sectioning students
according to IQ but by adjusting the subject matter to the abilities of the students. This is
based on the concept that each individual is unique or individual differences.
(7) Thinking and reasoning are emphasized in the educative process. Effective
teaching, thought provoking activities and good questioning stimulate thinking and
reasoning in which the abilities of a child are maximized.
(8) Evaluation with flexible standards is utilized in teaching and learning. This is based
on the principle that evaluation completes the learning.
(9) Students are free from emotional tension or fear of the teacher. A law about
corporal punishment has already implemented in the Philippine to prevent emotional and
devastation of the learners. The Philippine society promotes not blind obedience but
intelligent self-discipline.
(10) Close relationship between the school and the community. School activities are
related to the awareness of community improvement, participation in cultural activities and
projects. As Dewey emphasized that Education is a social process.9
The philosophy of Dr. John Dewey focuses on the practical and useful events of a child.
The assertive factors of empiricism or naturalism, experimentalism, instrumentalism and
pragmatism had vital influence in the field of education in the Philippines. Attention is
placed on the child’s activities and the value of learning by living, that growth is more
important in learning and is applicable to the educational system in the Philippines.
It can be said that the nature of educational philosophy suggests the necessity for all other
educational disciplines to follow the goal and direction of philosophy. The bright ideas and
reflective thought of the philosopher provided a frame of reference which must operate.
Education must deal with the nature of learner, the teaching process, curriculums, duties
and responsibilities of teachers and the administration likewise must be considered.
Aims of Education under the Philippines New Society
Based on Dr. John Dewey’s Philosophy

The system of education in the Philippines is directed toward the total development of
individual, family, school, community and the nation.
The general aims of the New Constitution (1973) are designed to accelerate the individual
growth or self-discipline, social growth, economic development, political awareness and
values –oriented. It is also the new aims of the new education to achieve a high moral
regeneration and improve the people’s character and attitude necessary in national
development.10
During the Marcos regime, the aims of education under the Constitution of 1973, Article XV
Sec. 8 states that:
All educational institutions shall be under the supervision and subject to the regulation by
the State.
The State shall establish and maintain a complete, adequate and integrated system of
education relevant to the goals of national development,
All institutions shall aim to inculcate love for country, teach the duties of citizenship, and
develop moral character, personal discipline and scientific and technological and vocational
efficiency.
The State shall maintain a system of free public elementary education and in areas where
finances permit, establish and maintain at least up to the secondary level.
The state shall provide citizenship and vocational training to adult citizens and out-of-
school youth, and create and maintain scholarships for poor and deserving students. Aside
from the Constitutional laws, the development of the whole man is another aim of
Philippine Education. It means to develop the individual mentally, physically, emotionally,
socially and spiritually. This is from the concept that education is a process of growth and
development. Growth is the product of interaction of individual with its environment.
Another aim of the Philippine educational system is to upgrade and change its curriculum.
The newly implemented Enhanced K-12 Curriculum is also based on the philosophy of John
Dewey, the pragmatism, experimentalism, empiricism or naturalism and instrumentalism
principles. According to data gathered, the objectives of Enhanced K to 12 Basic Education
Program is to create graduates that will:
*Acquire mastery of basic competencies.
*Be more emotionally mature.
*Be socially aware, pro-active, involve in public and civic affairs.
*Be adequately prepared for the word of work or entrepreneurship or higher education.
*Be legally employable with potential for better earnings.
*Be globally competitive.
Every graduate of the Enhanced K to 12 Basic Education program is an empowered
individual who has learned, through a program that is rooted on sound educational
principles and geared towards excellence, the foundations for learning throughout life, the
competence to engage in work and be productive, the ability to coexist in fruitful harmony
with local and global communities, the capability to engage in autonomous critical thinking,
and the capacity to transform others and one’s self.11
The aims of the New Enhanced K-12 Curriculum are acquired and influenced by thecoexist
in fruitful harmony with local and global communities, the capability to engage in
autonomous critical thinking, and the capacity to transform others and one’s self.11
The aims of the New Enhanced K-12 Curriculum are acquired and influenced by the
different philosophies of several philosophers. The approaches built by Dr. John Dewey are
very visible in the New Enhanced K-12 Curriculum.
This proves again that aims of the education in the Philippines originated and influenced by
the Philosophy of Dr. John Dewey.
Conclusion
The leaders of the Philippines are building a nation for the citizens of the future. The
Philippines keeps on reorganizing the school system so that it may prepare young men and
women to have promising future. The Department of Education wanted to meet the needs
and aims of the New Society in education even in the complexity of time, economic
aspects, advanced technology, environment, social forms and political change. Its goal to
improve and focus on the student as the focus of education remains the first priority.
History shows that Philippines has taken education as one of its priorities and considered it
as a requirement of individual to act morally, live responsibly, socially aware of his/her
environment, participate and exercise his/her rights politically and grow productively in
the society where he /she belongs. A child must grow productively in the society where he
/she belongs. Education served as an integral part of the society in elevating the lives of
every Filipinos.
Department of Education underwent several changes – new system, new curriculum, new
laws and ordinances or Republic Act. Although the styles and techniques of teaching or
systems and forms have changed, the role of school in the society will always be vital in
the growth of individual. It is very transparent that the principles formulated by the
Philosopher Dr. John Dewey influenced the Philippines education in all areas and aspects.
Present curriculum shows several thoughts of the philosopher has been applied and
accounted to be the guiding patterns of the system.
According to de Montaigne, famous philosopher and education advocate, “Learning is a
good medicine: but no medicine is powerful enough to preserve itself from taint and
corruption independently of defects in the jar that it is kept in. One man sees clearly but
does not see straight: consequently he sees what is good but fails to follow it; he sees
knowledge and does not use it. So continuous training and revisions must be modified
from time to time, rigid monitoring in the implementation of the principles and ceaseless
support and effort from the different sectors of the society to completely achieve the ideals
of the principles.
The attainment of the objectives of education will always depend on the cooperation and
total participation among the students, teachers, school administrators and the country’s
officials. They are the instruments and tools of education. They are needed to implement
the system and to continually adjust and adapt to the changes that the computer age will
bring. None the less the philosophies no matter how great or effective will become
senseless and futile if not applied properly in the learning process.
To this day, school has retained some basic characteristics of its origin. Many of our
contemporaries would be surprised if we tell them that there was a time when schools did
not exist and that perhaps in the far-off future they will stop to exist. Marshall McLuhan
has already announced the end of the era of written letters and books, and consequently
the disappearance of school in the traditional form to which people are accustomed.
Traditional learning and methods will soon be transformed.12 Education may change in the
following years, yet philosophies of education will always remain as guiding principles and
theories in this complicated times of the era. Dr. John Dewey’s philosophy together with
the other theories will always be the foundation in the system of education in the
Philippines and in any parts of the world.
References:

Acero,Victorina. Javier, Evelyn. Castro, Herminia. Principles and Strategies of Teaching.

Rex Bookstore, Inc. 2000

Gregorio, Herman. Gregorio, Cornelia. Philosophy of Education in Philippine Setting.

Garotech Publishing. 2007

Zulueta,Francisco.Maglaya, Elda.Foundations of Education. National Bookstore. Reprint

2005

http://www.philosophy.ProspectsinEducation.United Nations Educational, Scientific and

Cultural Organization. Place de Fontenoy © Vol.1No.2.2007

http://www.spaceandmotion.com.Philosophy-Spinoza-Philosopher.httm
http://www.John Dewey’s Educational Philosophy:Core Concepts George Demetrion