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INTRODUCTION

Development of a country's science and technology

- A vital importance for socioeconomic progress in the contemporary world.

- A concern of governments since post-world war II.

In Third World countries, the problem of dependence in S & T is closely tied with:

- political sovereignty

- economic self-reliance

PRE-COLONIAL PHILIPPINES

• culture and traditions, belief system and indigenous knowledge system were common

• Filipinos were knowledgeable about nature and environment (ex. Herbs –medicinal plants)

• Interpretation of heavenly bodies to predict seasons and climates, and organizing days into months and years

• Filipinos had alphabet, number system, weighing scale, measuring systems and calendar.

• Practice of indigenous science or folk science

• Medicine – medicinal plants

• Technology – building houses, irrigations, tools for everyday life

- Transportation (boat making)

- Planting, cooking, hunting, fishing

- Weapons

- Musical instruments

• Metal age – gold, silver, jewelry, ceramics, metal tools

• Trading with China, Indonesia, Japan

- Cultural and technological exchange

• Barter and trade occurred (ornaments, sea shells, pots, beeswax, cotton, pearls, tortoise shell, medicinal betel nuts, and coconut heart mats)

• S&T is embedded in their way of life

- Planting of crops

- Taking care of animals

- Food production

SPANISH COLONIZATION

• Brought their Catholicism (curriculum involved the study of Christian doctrines)

• Established schools for boys and girls (subjects and discipline)

- Beginning of formal science and technology in the country

- Technology focuses on using and developing house tools used in everyday life

• Adaptation of Western technology and life

• Galleon trade

• Centers of global trade in Southeast Asia

• Superstitious beliefs and catholic doctrines halted growth of science

• Spaniards, mestizos and wealthy Filipinos were given priority, creating an educational mismatch in the Philippines.

AMERICAN ERA

• Establishment of public education system

• English was adopted as the medium of instruction in all public schools.

• Every child from age 7 was required to register in schools located in their own town or province.

• There were three levels of education:

• "elementary" level consisted of four primary years and 3 intermediate years.

• "secondary" or high school level consisted of four year

• "college" or tertiary level.

• Religion was not part of the curriculum

• Improved engineering works and health conditions of the people

• Modern research university – University of the Philippines

• Public hospitals

• Exploration and exploitation of mineral resources

• Transportations and communication

• Education helped spread American cultural values

• the Philippines was “Americanized”

• Develop human resources to serve their own interest – new knowledge and technology in the country

• Instruction in English language, and American history, lead to forming of a national identity and Filipino nationalism.