Philippines

The Philippines is a nation of 7,000 islands in southeast Asia. Important factors that influence the development of its educational system include the effects of Spanish and American colonization, its needs as a developing nation, and the role of religion in society. Current educational reforms are being pushed because of concerns about the quality of schooling, the competitiveness of its citizens, and the role of education to economic development.

There are three government bodies that oversee the educational system: the Department of Education (DepEd), which is responsible for basic education; the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for the tertiary level; and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), which is responsible for vocational education.

Before 2011, basic education comprises six years of elementary and four years ...