A survey of the educational system of the Philippine islands by the Board of educational survey, created under acts 3162 and 3196 of the Philippine Legislature.

CHAPTER IX

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT.-Higher education in the Philippines is
under the control of one publicly supported institution, the University of
the Philippines, and several other institutions which are either administered by religious or private organizations. As the Survey Commission
was invited to the Philippines primarily to make a survey of the public
educational system, its chief attention in the field of higher education
was given to the work of the University of the Philippines. The work
of private institutions in the field has been briefly considered under the
chapter Private Schools.
THE UNIVERSITY AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
HISTORICAL SKETCH.-The American occupation was followed
rapidly by the establishment, first, of a large number of elementary
schools and, as soon as resources permitted, by at least one high school
in every province. It was soon felt that the Filipino nation-in-the-building ought to have a university as the capstone of this public-school
system to provide leaders for the nation and prepare men for service in
professional and technical fields. Moreover, in order to retain the
students in the high schools, assurance had to be given that the Government intended to provide advanced and professional courses in English.
Otherwise they preferred to attend the Spanish schools. Accordingly
on June 18, 1908, the Philippine Legislature enacted a law for the
establishment of a university. The preliminary organization of the institution was begun during the latter part of that year.
The College of Medicine was, chronologically considered, the first
unit of the institutional organization. It was originally known as the
Philippine Medical School created by a special act on December 1,
1905, and opened to students for purposes of instruction on June 10,
1907. It became a university college on the 8th of December, 1910.
The Schools of Pharmacy and Dentistry were some time later added
to the College of Medicine but as yet have not been made separate
colleges.
The School of Fine Arts was authorized by the Legislature when the
University was established.
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