The Education System during the Spanish Occupation
- Category :School Education
Did you know that prior to receiving the formal education in our country, the native Filipinos were first taught of the Catholic Religion. And before many of the Filipinos learn to read and write, they were first taught to memorize long passages of the Bible.
The first batch of the Spanish Missionaries founded the first primary school in the Philippines on 1582. The first schools were intended for the church parishes during those times. This were headed and run by the Parish Priests. The most important aspect of teaching that was taught is religion. The children were also taught how to read, write, count, draw, sing and how to work.
The mode of teaching is memorizing of the lessons. The Filipinos can easily be taught and learn because of their natural intelligence and their high interest in learning.
By virtue of a law imposed on 1863, it is mandated by the government to have one common elementary school for males and one for the females for each province.
They also founded a normal school for the teachers under the leadership of the Jesuits. The municipal government was mandated to administer this. It is also mandated by the law that the Spanish language will be taught be free of charge as well as for the primary education.
Under the same law, it is also mandated to open up a provincial school which will be run by the parish priests. There were many teachings taught to the male students such as geography, farming, and history of Spain, mathematics, writing, Doctrina Christiana (Christian Doctrine), proper manners, and singing. Whereas, for the females; they were taught of geography, history of Spain, embroidery and weaving, and cooking.
Some of the earliest schools build by the Spaniards were:
- Colegio de San Ignacio on 1589
- Colegio de San Ildefonso in Cebu on 1596
- Colegio de San Jose in Manila on 1601
- Colegio de San Juan de Letran on 1630 (intended for the male orphan)
- Escuela Pia on 1817 (who became Ateneo de Manila on 1859)
They also founded the Colegio de Santa Potenciana, the first female school in country on 1589 as well as the Colegio de Santa Isabel on 1532. The missionary nuns coming from different congregations were mandated to run these schools. They taught Catechism, Spanish and Latin languages, writing, reading, math, history, music, good manners, and the knowledge of housekeeping.
The missionary priests also founded universities in the country. The College of Santo Rosario (now called University of Santo Tomas) was founded by the Dominicans on 1611. They also founded the University of San Felipe on 1707. The aim of these schools is for the students to continue their college studies in the country.
There were many Filipinos who finished their college degree in the field of medicine, law, writers, pharmacy, and others. Among these were Dr. Jose Rizal, Apolinario Mabini, Graciano Lopez Jaena, and Marcelo H. Del Pilar.
Author’s note: Another compiling story and history of my motherland and its citizens.
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