The History of Philippine Gifted Education

The movement for the education of the gifted and the talented received government support and funding as early as 1960’s (Wu & Cho in Fernandez: Orosa, 2007). There had been counseling projects and conceptual planning of gifted education. In 1966, the Department of Special Education of the University of the Philippines conducted trainings for capable teachers to supervise gifted children. Furthermore, the Republic Act no. 528 ordered a 10-year training for some public school teachers for gifted education.  Along the 1970’s the government chartered schools for the gifted. Within the same time line, Philippine Science High School and Manila Science High School were opened as special schools for gifted education. Both schools were fully subsidized. Thus, they are free education, but only for a limited number of students. Both schools offer special science curriculums.  Later, other expertises were recognized to be owned by talented individuals. These talented individuals, having edge on arts, was catered also in special schools like The Philippine Science High School for Arts.

In the next decade- the 1980’s- gifted education was extended to elementary schooling. The authority on Philippine education management back then was still MECS. Under the supervision of Jaime C. Laya, MECS ‘Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports’ issued an order that initiated the increasing public participation in programs for the gifted and the talented.