During the Buddhist period, the monasteries became the centers of education. Only the Buddhist could receive religious and other type of education. It was based on the teaching of Gautama Buddha. These teaching were so important that they remained a source of inspiration for individual as well as social development in India.
Buddhist education aims include the development of education – physical, mental, moral and intellectual. For the formation of character, they observed celibacy laid stress on a life of moral purity. It also aims to teach the four noble truths and to prepare them for life by providing wordily and practically knowledge along with religious education that when students entered normal life they may be able to earn their livelihood.
Students undergo Pabhaja and Upasampada ceremonies to enter Buddhist monasteries. Attaining salvation was the aim of Buddhist education. Students Education, clothes, food and residence of the student monk was the responsibility of the teacher and in return, the students shall serve his teacher – cook his food, clean his clothes and utensils and giving the alms he acquired by begging to the teacher.
The curriculum was chiefly spiritual in nature and was meant only for monks. Spinning, weaving, printing of clothes, tailoring, sketching, accountancy, medicine, surgery and coinage were other subjects in Buddhism. Mental and moral development was emphasized.
The methods of educations includes verbal education, discussion, prominence of logic, tours, conference and meditation in solitude. On the beginning and class of every month, learned people assemble to maintain the moral standards of all the monks and it was compulsory. Vocation education was also given importance.
Teachers may admit a number of pupils in his house for a minimum of 12 years. The progress shown by the pupils was the only factor that determined the continence of his apprenticeship.
In the contemporary Philippine educational system, there are also a lot of monasteries in the Philippines. Aside from the regular courses that the students have finished, they shall take theology courses which will be their ladder in becoming priests and nuns.
While in the Sisters of Mary, the students were given academic knowledge as well as technical knowledge particularly spinning, weaving, printing of clothes, tailoring, sketching, accountancy and many others. For them to earn for a living when they enter a normal outside the four walls of the Sisters of Mary. While others work or pursue their studies in college, some are deciding to stay at the Sisters of Mary to become nuns who shall serve and help other students who would be assigned under their care.
The students and nuns in the congregation help each other in doing their day to day tasks. The nuns, teachers and students serve one another in the best way they can.
While at the Sisters of Mary, they shall have some theological courses. In the case of the boys who graduate from The Sisters of Mary, they enter the congregation of The Brothers of Christ where they take their theological courses which shall be their passes to be certified priests in different places as they finished their schooling.
In the Philippines, aside from the Sisters of Mary… there are also a number of other congregation or institution with different orders who focus on morality and salvation. I happened to teach at Our Lady of Lourdes Academy and Lady Mediatrix Institute run by the nuns who also value and teach meditation in solitude.
Just like in Buddhist education, the methods of education in the Philippines include verbal education, discussion, prominence of logic, tours, conference and meditation in solitude. There are also meetings, conventions, conferences, training and seminars conducted before the class starts and every month to keep everyone abreast regarding the progress and challenges education is facing.
Vocational training and courses are now given importance in the K to12 curriculum in the Philippine educational system giving way to a lot of higher education and job opportunities right after finishing the senior high school program both in the public and private high schools.
In the Sisters of Mary, vocational courses were already integrated in the Basic Education curriculum since it started its operation in different countries including the Philippines. Among the courses offered are sewing, drafting, mass production, stenography, typing, computer, cooking, driving, automotive, refrigeration, air conditioning, welding and electronics which later on help them to be hired in different companies in the Philippines and even in the neighboring countries.
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