to secondary education, which has created separate
grade classifications: junior high and senior high. The
Philippine government believes the K to 12 Program
will not only give its citizens a greater chance of se-
curing employment right after high school, but it will
also help them find job opportunities abroad.
The K to 12 Program will be completely implemented
in all Philippine schools in the 2016-2017 school year
which is believed to begin this June
in both Filipino and English so that students could
better comprehend the various subject matters.
After graduating high school, Philippine students
typically enroll in college. Whether under the old
educational system or the K-12 system, eligibility for
college enrollment depends on students passing
an entrance exam. Depending on the student’s ma-
jor and passing of each course, tertiary education
would usually take between 4-5 years to complete.
Students typically graduate by the age of 20 or 21.
In the Philippines, there are four select universities
known among Filipinos as the “Big 4” that are consi-
dered most prestigious. The first is the University of
the Philippines, or “UP;” second is Ateneo de Manila
University, or “ADMU;” third is De La Salle Universi-
ty, or “DLSU;” and last but not the least is University
of Santo Tomas, or “UST.” Among these four univer-
sities, UP is said and believed to be the best of all.
Although the Big 4 are not the only higher education
institutions in the Philippines, most students would
make it their goal to attend one of them, not only for
educational purposes, but also for the privilege that
comes after graduation. It is said that students who
graduate from such schools are given priority when
applying for a job.
With the Philippine’s adaption of the K to 12 Educa-
tional System, much of the curriculum has changed.
An official kindergarten program has been imple-
mented, and an additional 2 years has been added
In the Philippines,
there are four select
universities known among
Filipinos as the “Big 4” that
are considered most
prestigious.
References
“Analysis of the Basic Education System of the Phillippines,” Acedemia, last accessed January 23, 2016, http://www.academia.
edu/3814475/Analysis_of_the_Basic_Education_of_the_
Philippines_
“The Education System in Philippines,” Studylands, accessed January 13, 2016, https://www.studylands.com/guide/PH-education.
htm
“K to 12 General Information,” Republic of the Philippines Department of Education, accessed January 13, 2016, http://www.
deped.gov.ph/k-to-12/faq
Winter / Spring 2017 | ZEALOUSNESS MAGAZINE |