INTRODUCTION

            The term curriculum is quite familiar to us particularly for those who have attended college since this is the first thing that we look for if we want to know about a particular course. So let us give a proper meaning to that word first.

Curriculum is a regular course of study. It is the sum of all the learners’ experiences  which are in any way affected by the school. It includes predefined, prearranged listing of subjects to be taken up when you take up a course.

Curricula is the plural term of curriculum. So when we say “Curricula of Philippine schools”, we are referring to all specific curriculum used in the levels of our Philippine educational system.

THE PRESENT PHILIPPINE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM 

The education system of the country embraces formal and non-formal education. Formal education is a sequential progression of academic schooling at three levels, namely, elementary, secondary and tertiary education. The first level, elementary or primary education involves compulsory six grades in public schools and seven grades in some private schools, in addition to optional pre-school programmes (DECS, 1994). The pre-school education usually consists of kindergarten schooling and may cover other preparatory courses. At the age of 3 or 4, a pupil may enter nursery school until 5 and at 6 years old, proceeds to grade one.

The second level or secondary education corresponds to four years of high school, the prerequisite of which is completion of the elementary level. A student enters the secondary level at age 12 and graduates at 15.

The third level is tertiary education or higher education where a student enters at age 16. Higher education is divided into collegiate, master’s and doctorate levels in various programmes or disciplines. Post-secondary schooling consists of two or three-year non-degree technical or technician courses.

The Philippine education system is closely related to the American system of formal education while other Asian countries are influenced by the English, French or Dutch system.

Non-formal education, which includes the acquisition of knowledge even outside school premises is aimed at attaining specific learning objectives for a particular clientele, especially the out-of-school youth or adult illiterates who cannot avail themselves of formal education. An example is functional literacy programmes for non-literate and semi-literate adults which integrate basic literacy with livelihood skills training.

The responsibility of administering, supervising and regulating basic education (elementary and secondary education) is vested in the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) while that of higher education is lodged in the Commission on Higher Education. The post-secondary technical-vocational education is under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) which is also in charge of skills orientation, training and development of out-of-school youth and unemployed community adults.

As of 1996, there are 49,631 schools in all levels, of which, 84 percent are public. Of the 35,775 elementary schools, 94 percent are public. In the secondary level, there are 6,309 schools, of which, 59 percent are public. Of the 1,185 higher education institutions, 80 percent are private.