Chinese Filipino - Education

Education

Around 120 Chinese Filipino schools (called locally as "Chinese schools") exist throughout the Philippines, with the vast majority being concentrated in Metro Manila.

Previously under direct supervision of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of China (Taiwan), the Filipinization decree of former President Ferdinand Marcos in 1975 effectively made all the Chinese Filipino schools under the authority of the Philippine Department of Education. Time usually allotted for Chinese subjects were halved, and Filipino became a required subject. Also, the medium of instruction was shifted from Mandarin Chinese to English.

Chinese Filipino schools have an international reputation for producing award winning students in the fields of science and mathematics, most of whom reap international awards in mathematics, computer programming, and robotics olympiads.

Curriculum

Chinese Filipino schools typically feature curriculum prescribed by the Philippine Department of Education, while inserting Chinese subjects. The three core Chinese subjects are 華語 (Mandarin: Huáyŭ; Hokkien: Hoâ-gí, English: Chinese Grammar), 綜合 (Mandarin: Zōnghé; Hokkien: Chong-ha'p; English: Chinese Composition), and 數學 (Mandarin: Shùxué; Hokkien: Sòha'k; English: Chinese Mathematics). Other schools may add other subjects such as 毛筆 (Mandarin: Máobĭ; Hokkien: Mô-pit; English: Chinese calligraphy) . Chinese history, geography, and culture are integrated in all the three core Chinese subjects - they stood as independent subjects of their own before the Filipinization decree of 1975. All Chinese subjects are taught in Mandarin Chinese, and in some schools, students are prohibited from speaking English, Filipino, or even Hokkien during Chinese classes.

Schools and Universities

Many Chinese Filipino schools are largely sectarian, being founded by either Roman Catholic or Protestant Chinese missions. These include Grace Christian College (Protestant-Baptist), Hope Christian High School (Protestant-Evangelical), Immaculate Conception Academy (Roman Catholic-Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception), Jubilee Christian Academy (Protestant-Evangelical), LIGHT Christian Academy (Protestant-Evangelical), Makati Hope Academy (Protestant-Evangelical), MGC-New Life Christian Academy (Protestant-Evangelical), Saint Jude Catholic School (Roman Catholic-Society of Divine Word), Saint Stephen's High School (Protestant-Episcopalian), and Xavier School (Roman Catholic-Society of Jesus).

Major non-sectarian schools include Chiang Kai Shek College, Manila Patriotic School, Philippine Chen Kuang School, Philippine Chung Hua School, Philippine Cultural College, Philippine Tiong Se Academy.

Chiang Kai Shek College is the only college in the Philippines accredited by both the Philippine Department of Education and the Republic of China (Taiwan) Ministry of Education.

Most Chinese Filipinos attend Chinese Filipino schools until Secondary level, and then transfer to non-Chinese colleges and universities to complete their tertiary degree, due to the dearth of Chinese language tertiary institutions.