1. Informal and Decentralized:
* Family-based: Education was primarily informal and family-oriented. Parents, elders, and community leaders passed down knowledge and skills to children.
* Practical Skills: The focus was on practical skills essential for survival and community life, including farming, fishing, weaving, cooking, and traditional crafts.
* Values and Traditions: Children learned about their culture, values, beliefs, and traditions through stories, rituals, and observation.
2. Specialized Training:
* Specific Roles: Depending on their social status and gender, children received specialized training. For example, the children of datus (chiefs) received instruction in leadership and governance, while those from noble families might learn about arts, religion, and diplomacy.
* Trade and Crafts: Apprenticeship systems existed for skills like blacksmithing, pottery, and boat making, where young people learned from experienced masters.
3. Religious Instruction:
* Ancestral Beliefs: Education revolved around the beliefs of indigenous religions. Children were taught about their ancestors, spirits, and rituals.
* Oral Tradition: Knowledge was passed down through oral tradition, songs, dances, and storytelling.
4. Limited Literacy:
* Limited Writing Systems: While some indigenous groups had their own writing systems (like the Baybayin script), literacy was not widespread.
* Oral Communication: Oral communication was the primary means of transmitting information.
5. No Formal Schools:
* No Centralized System: There were no formal schools or standardized curriculum like we have today.
Important Considerations:
* Regional Variations: The educational practices differed across various indigenous communities in the Philippines.
* Pre-colonial Society: The educational system reflected the social structure and beliefs of pre-colonial Philippine society.
* Influence of Trade: Trade with neighboring regions also influenced knowledge and skills transfer.
Spanish Influence:
* Significant Shift: The arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century brought about a radical transformation in the educational system. Spanish authorities established a centralized, formal education system based on the Spanish model. This system focused on Spanish language, Catholicism, and Western learning, which marginalized indigenous traditions and practices.
In summary, the pre-Spanish era educational system in the Philippines was primarily informal, family-based, and focused on practical skills and cultural values. It was highly diverse and reflected the different indigenous cultures and communities across the archipelago.