During the Spanish colonial period in the Philippines from 1565-1898, the Spanish established the first universities, colleges, and public education system in Asia. The Jesuits founded the first college for boys in 1589 called the College of Manila, which was later elevated to a university called the University of San Ignacio in 1621 by Pope Gregory XV. Other schools established included Colegio de San Jose in 1601, Colegio de Nuestra Senora del Santissimo Rosario which was later renamed Universidad de Santo Tomas in 1645, and Colegio de San Juan de Letran. Education was centered around religion and Spanish, and was only available to the elite.
2. During the Spanish Colonial Period of the Philippines
(1565-1898) most of the archipelago underwent a deep
cultural, religious transformation from various native
Asian cultures and traditions with Islamic or animist
religious practices, to a unique hybrid of Southeast Asia
and Western culture including the Catholic faith.
Spanish education played a major role in that
transformation. The oldest universities, colleges,
vocational schools and the first modern public education
system in Asia were created during the colonial period.
3. Education was still in the early stage of
development during the Spanish period. Even
by the late 19th century, the Spanish language
was still unknown to a great majority. They
were literate in their own native dialects. The
Spanish aristocracy tried to distinguish
themselves from the indios with the use of
language and level education.
4. The Jesuits in manila founded the first college for
boys in 1589. It was originally called College of
Manila (for scholastics), and later changed to
College of San Ignacio. In 1621, it was elevated to
the rank of a university by Pope Gregory XV and
was named University of san Ignacio. However, this
school was closed in 1768 when the Jesuits were
expelled from the country. In 1601, the Colegio de
san jose also under the Jesuits, was establishes.
7. In 1611, Fray Miguel de Benavides, the third archbishop of
Manila established the Colegio de Nuestra Senora del
Santissimo Rosario, later renamed universidad de Santo Tomas
(in 1645 by Pope Innocent X).
Universidad de Santo Tomas
8. The Dominican order that administered Colegio de Santo
Tomas also established the Colegio de San Juan de Letran to
take care of orphaned Spanish boys.
Colegio de San Juan de Letran
9. The girls were also given special education. Schools were of
two kinds:
•COLEGIO - a regular school for girls
•BEATERIO – a combined school and nunnery
The first college for girls in the Philippines was the College
of Santa Potenciana (1594). After the school ceased its
operations, the students transferred to College of Santa Isabel,
now the oldest existing college for girls in the country. The
institution was originally built to care for orphaned Spanish
girls. Eventually, it became an exclusive school for the
daughters of affluent Spaniards.
10. In 1621, the Franciscan nuns established the
Real Monasterio de Santa Clara (now St. Claire
Convent of Manila), the first nunnery in the
Philippines.
11. Primary education consisted of courses in
reading, writing, arithmetic, religion;
geography, the history of Spain, the Spanish
language, vocal music; and agriculture for
boys and needle work for girls. The girls
were taught basic education, as well as
religion, needlework, painting and music.
12. Academic reforms were later on implemented, after the
Spanish government conceded to its growing demand. The
Educational Decree, dated December 20, 1863 introduced
a system of public education that opened opportunities to
Filipinos for higher learning. It ordered the establishment
of an educational system consisting of elementary,
secondary, and collegiate levels.
13. SPANISH
MISSIONARIES
-education was “religion centered”
-education for the elite only
-Spanish is compulsory
-boys and girls school are separated
-inadequate, suppressed and controlled
