ver, private schools often operate a seven-year curriculum starting a year earlier. Students are annually promoted from one grade to the next provided that they meet the achievement standards set for the grade. Students are rated in every subject four times during the year. A cumulative rating system is used as the basis for promotion. The pass grade is 75 percent. In grades I & II the medium of instruction is generally in the local dialect, of which there are more than 170 nationally, with English and Filipino taught as second languages. From grade III onwards mathematics and science are taught in English with the social sciences and humanities taught in Filipino.
After satisfactorily completing the six-year elementary curriculum, students receive a certificate of graduation from the elementary school. No examination is required for admission to public secondary schools.
Duration: Four years (grades I – IV, age seven to 11).
Duration: Two years (grades V – VI, age 11 to 13).
Curriculum: Core subjects: Language arts (Filipino, English and local dialect), mathematics, health and science;
Makabayan* subjects: In grades I – III students study civics and culture, in grades IV – VI students study music, arts and physical education; home economics and livelihood; and social studies. Values education and ‘good manners and right conduct’ are integrated in all learning areas.
* Makabayan is described by the ministry as a learning area that serves as a practice environment for holistic learning to develop a healthy personal and national self-identity. Ideally, it entails the adoption of modes of integrative teaching that will enable the student to process and synthesize a wide range of skills and values (cultural, aesthetic, athletic, vocational, politico-economic, and ethical).
Leaving Certificate: The Certificate of Graduation is awarded to students who complete six years of primary education.
Private schools enroll a much higher percentage of students at the secondary level than at the elementary level. Approximately 40 percent of the nation’s secondary schools are private enrolling approximately 32 percent of all high school students (Department of Education, 2003). There are two main types of secondary schools: the general secondary school, which enroll more than 90 percent of all high school students, and the vocational secondary school. In addition, there are also science secondary schools for students who have demonstrated a particular gift in science at the primary level. Vocational high schools differ from general high schools in that they have a heavier concentration in vocational training and practical arts. As in primary school, secondary school students are rated four times a year. If a student fails to get a final rating of no less than 75 percent in a particular subject, he or she repeats the subject the next year, but is, nevertheless, promoted to the next grade. A certificate is issued to secondary school graduates.
Duration: Four years (grades VII – X, age 13 to 17)
Entrance Requirement: Admission to public school is automatic for those who have completed six years of primary school. Some private secondary schools have competitive entrance requirements based on an entrance examination. Entrance to science high schools is also by competitive examination.
General High Schools
Curriculum: Communication arts (English and Filipino), social studies (including anthropology, Philippine history and government, economics, geography and sociology), mathematics, science and technology, youth development training (including physical education, health education, music and citizen army training), practical arts (including home economics, agriculture & fisheries, industrial arts, and entrepreneurship), values education and some electives including both academic and vocational subjects.
Vocational High Schools
Secondary vocational schools offer a higher concentration of technical and vocational subjects in addition to the core academic subjects studied by students at general high schools. These schools tend to offer technical an