Education

Importance of Education By: Angelica Nhoj D. Gemora 10-Fortitude The school year in the Philippines starts in June of one year and ends in March of the next, with a two-month summer break for April and May, one week of semestral break (the last week of October), and a week or two of Christmas break. The Philippine educational structure is comprised of two categories: Formal and Non-formal Education. Formal Education This system describes the progression of academic schooling from elementary to tertiary levels. Elementary and secondary level schools fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Education which overseas the subjects taught and time allocation, and schools’ objectives. Under the Philippine Constitution of 1987, elementary education is free and mandatory, with six (6) years of basic knowledge, foundation skills, attitudes and values essential to a child’s development. Among private schools (for fee payment programs), pre-school and an additional 7th year are optional services. Secondary level education is very similar to the US educational system, with 4 years of comprehensive studies to prepare students for further education and work. There are two kinds of secondary schools: general secondary which offers the four year general academic curriculum; and vocational high school which offers additional technical courses on top of the basic curriculum. Upon completion of high school or vocational high school, students may choose to pursue tertiary level studies or develop technical skills for a particular occupation. Technical and vocational training encompasses both formal and non-formal educational systems. The formal system of post-secondary technical training involves structured and sequential learning leading to certification for middle-level occupations. Non-Formal Education To address the population of out of school youth and marginalized communities unable to access public education, the government provides a system of educational...