Philippines FAQ
Philippines FAQ
About the Philippines
Where is the Philippines and what makes it unique?
The Philippines is an archipelago of over 7,600 islands in Southeast Asia, located in the Pacific Ocean. With over 113 million people, it is the 13th most populous country in the world. It is known for its rich cultural diversity, strong family ties, and warm hospitality.
What languages are spoken there?
The official languages are Filipino (Tagalog) and English. Filipino contains many words of Spanish origin, a legacy of over 300 years of Spanish colonization. Over 100 indigenous languages are also spoken across the islands.
What is the predominant religion?
The Philippines is the third-largest Catholic country in the world, after Mexico and Brazil. Catholicism remains deeply influential in Filipino culture and education.
Education in the Philippines
How is the education system structured?
The Philippines has a K–12 system similar to Latin America. Students attend:
- Kindergarten through 6th grade (primary)
- 7th–10th grade (junior high)
- 11th–12th grade (senior high)
Higher education includes bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
What is the academic calendar?
The school year typically runs from June to March, similar to bilingual schools in Latin America. Adjustments may be made around election seasons or typhoon-related disruptions.
How many students are in a typical classroom?
Class sizes range from 25 to 30 students, though multi-grade classrooms are common in remote areas, as they are in our Latin American programs. And, with a backlog of 165k classrooms, many students are taught in over-crowded conditions.
What are the biggest challenges facing schools?
- Low quality of instruction and limited teacher training
- Underpaid teachers working long hours (many volunteer extra time)
- Poor infrastructure, including schools made of palm leaves or with sand floors
- Extreme weather vulnerability (e.g., typhoons can destroy schools)
- Poor performance on international assessments (e.g., last place in 2018 PISA rankings)
What language are students taught in?
From grades 1 to 3, instruction is in Tagalog. Starting in grade 4, classes are taught in both Tagalog and English. Teachers are generally bilingual and trained in both languages through higher education.
How do students get to school?
In some areas, students travel by boat or even swim to school. One nonprofit, The Yellow Boat of Hope, builds boats for students who must cross rivers or travel between islands.
Do students receive food or financial aid at school?
There are no stipends, but students may receive meals through nutrition programs, especially those living far from school. Some schools have cafeterias (called “cantinas” using the Spanish word) that serve meals.
How are schools built to withstand typhoons?
Buildings must be adapted for high winds and flooding. School the World has shared Honduras’ school design with engineers, who noted it was semi-resistant to typhoons. Enhancements needed include tighter spacing of roof fasteners, elevated foundations, and metal framing. The roof is the most critical area for storm resilience.
How is the education system structured?
The Philippines has a K–12 system similar to Latin America. Students attend:
- Kindergarten through 6th grade (primary)
- 7th–10th grade (junior high)
- 11th–12th grade (senior high)
Higher education includes bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
What is the academic calendar?
The school year typically runs from June to March, similar to bilingual schools in Latin America. Adjustments may be made around election seasons or typhoon-related disruptions.
How many students are in a typical classroom?
Class sizes range from 25 to 30 students, though multi-grade classrooms are common in remote areas, as they are in our Latin American programs. And, with a backlog of 165k classrooms, many students are taught in over-crowded conditions.
What are the biggest challenges facing schools?
- Low quality of instruction and limited teacher training
- Underpaid teachers working long hours (many volunteer extra time)
- Poor infrastructure, including schools made of palm leaves or with sand floors
- Extreme weather vulnerability (e.g., typhoons can destroy schools)
- Poor performance on international assessments (e.g., last place in 2018 PISA rankings)
What language are students taught in?
From grades 1 to 3, instruction is in Tagalog. Starting in grade 4, classes are taught in both Tagalog and English. Teachers are generally bilingual and trained in both languages through higher education.
How do students get to school?
In some areas, students travel by boat or even swim to school. One nonprofit, The Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation, builds boats for students who must cross rivers or travel between islands.
Do students receive food or financial aid at school?
There are no stipends, but students may receive meals through nutrition programs, especially those living far from school. Some schools have cafeterias (called “cantinas” using the Spanish word) that serve meals.
How are schools built to withstand typhoons?
Buildings must be adapted for high winds and flooding. School the World has shared Honduras’ school design with engineers, who noted it was semi-resistant to typhoons. Enhancements needed include tighter spacing of roof fasteners, elevated foundations, and metal framing. The roof is the most critical area for storm resilience.
Why the Philippines?
Why is School the World expanding to the Philippines?
The Philippines faces similar education equity challenges as Central America: lack of infrastructure, low teacher support, and limited resources. Ana’s visit confirmed strong alignment with School the World’s mission and enthusiastic interest from local communities and leaders.
Are there local partners or allies?
School the World has travelled to the Philippines several times to meet with government officials, school administrators, and nonprofits like The Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation. Our community-first model depends on partnerships at all these levels.
Is the School the World model a good fit?
Absolutely. The enthusiasm of local educators, need for improved infrastructure, and shared cultural values (faith, family, community) make the Philippines a promising context for our holistic school-community partnerships.
How Will School the World Start
How are School the World's core programs relevant in this new context?
Yes. All four core program areas align closely with the needs in the communities. We will start with our core Primary School programs and consider expansion to post-Primary and Early Childhood as wel goo. Our core offering includes:
- School Construction: There is a dire need for safe, resilient infrastructure. Many schools are built from fragile materials and can’t withstand typhoons. STW’s building expertise, particularly from Honduras, can be adapted for this context.
- Teacher Training: Teachers often lack access to formal training and ongoing professional development. STW’s approach to teacher coaching and leadership development would be highly beneficial.
- Parent Empowerment: Filipino culture places high value on family and community, similar to Latin America. Parent engagement and leadership programs would fit well and could increase local advocacy for education.