FILIPINO SCHOOL OF 2040

Definition of School. Any institution at which instruction is given in a particular discipline. In

Filipino sense, it is the second home for children to learning new things parents cannot
afford to do so at home.
Importance of schools in communities. Schools are communities unto themselves and childfriendly schools in particular promote a strong sense of community. But schools do not exist
in isolation. They reside within the communities they serve and must cultivate relationships
with them. In addition to the immediate community, usually a geographical catchment area,
schools also can have links with a more diffuse community, such as former students and
alumni associations, youth groups such as the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, faith-based
organizations or language groups associated with the school.
School-community links generally are based on a combination of pedagogic,
economic and socioeconomic dimensions. Many good schools have a strong link to the
communities they serve, influenced by one or more of these factors.
Objectives of schools of tomorrow

Sustainability among schools

Emphasize common purposes and

ideals

Holistic Learning of students

Provide developmentally
appropriate opportunities for

Cognitive Approach of learning

Good facilities that enhances

autonomy and influence

Incorporate context of
communities In schools

learning

Safety of Students

Linkage of community to schools

institutions dedicated to the

Sense of Connectedness to

purpose of learning

community

Value and expand the proportion

of childrens social capital

Cultivate respectful, supportive

relationships among students

Schools are specially designated

Promote powerful learningteaching processes that facilitates

educational achievement for all

children

Cherish and encourage the

development of families
educational culture

Filipino Schools Today. The education in the Philippines is modelled after the old American
educational system comprising of kindergarten, elementary school, high school and tertiary
school. Introduction of the system begins with its extensive and relatively inclusive system
of higher education. But due to several political and social revolutions happened in the
Philippines, the education was plagued by the long-term deterioration caused by urban and
rural disparities.
Education seamlessly does not cohere with the generations needs as the system
cannot provide adequate solutions to the needs of the 21st century children. Plurality, as
one of the major factors affecting the education continues to eradicate more the system.
The increasing number of population and students admitted in schools, facilities have long
run on serving the needs of its students. However on the year 2011-2012, a new educational
system was implemented, the K-12 education which extends secondary level to two (2)
years. Its objective is to strengthen more the education that the old system did not meet.
Filipino Schools Tomorrow. On the height of the implementation of K-12, Filipino schools
are deemed to be more progressive and smart. It should answer the needs of the students
as well as meet its primary goals and objective efficiently correcting the failures of the old
educational system. As learning styles and spaces evolve or change, students are expected
to be more oriented in process-based and holistic learning approaches rather than the
output based approach in which sets quota among the capacity of students on learning. As
learning is the hub of the community, there is a significant role in each member in a
community in order to nurture their schools.
Requirements in designing a school
A. Proxemics classroom size and furnitures should follow standard anthropometric of
Filipino children

B. Quality of Light 10 fc for Normal classroom; 30 fc for reading printed materials; 70

fc for pencil writing; 30 fc for reading duplicated reading materials; 100 fc for reading
poor duplicated reading materials; 150 fc for lip reading, sewing, etc.
C. Acoustical comfort There should be proper school zoning site; Should be inside a
neighbourhood; located at reasonable distance from street
D. Color it is for visual comfort; aesthetic effect; to preserve and protect materials; for
safety precautions
E. Proper location of School site Should be away from hazards; No declining
environment; Located at center of present and probable population to be served;
Should have good accessibility and topography.
F. Minimum standard requirement for school sites:
a. Elementary School in urban area with 6 classes and Non-central school with
6-10 classes: 5 000 sq. m
b. Secondary School in urban area with 500 students of less: 5 000 sq. m
G. Minimum space per person:
a. Classroom 1.40 sq. m per place
b. Computer room - 1.40 sq. m per place
c. Science Laboratory 2.10 sq. m per place
d. Library 2.40 sq. m per place
H. Student-teacher ratio:
a. As to Philippine Law: R.A. 7880 or Roxas Law provides 1:45 classroom-pupil
ratio
b. As to International standards: Western schools adopt a quality control over
the number of pupils to be served. In several studies, 30 or more students
handled by one teacher is hard to manage that schools abroad have
diminished student count and follows the maximum ratio of 1:25 teacherpupil ratio in each classroom. In America, school often have 1:20 ratio so that
the teacher can monitor well their students. In neighboring Asian countries
like Japan, they also use 1:25 ratio in their schools.
I. Classroom configurations
a. Recommended classroom set up The teacher can monitor well the pupils
going in and out of the classroom. Has better traffic flow than B in case of

emergency situations. Teacher is not easily distracted during class hours.

Natural lighting is optimized.
b. Bad classroom set up The teacher is easily distracted by noise of swinging
doors of late comers. Escape is hard during emergency situation due to the
configuration, natural lighting can be hardly achieved due to narrow opening.

c. Self-directed learning classroom set up preferable for ages 5-8 years as

learning takes place on experiential approach rather than academia setting.
Children on this age has the most critical stage on learning that teacher
should allow them to experiment and discover for themselves to exercise
critical thinking.

Design Concept and how it exemplifies the school of the future

Learning is a non-linear process; it evolves and continues to grow through
experiential, experimental and systematic approaches. While learning progresses,
institutions serve as a device which aids the needs of enriching the education of its students
however,

most

of

them

are

no

longer

seen

as

the

keeper/point

of

knowledge/places/entities where students go to learn, they become stagnant in due time,

and cannot accommodate the synthesis of the new knowledge of the generation.
Institutions need to become dynamic fields that holds, release, grow, collect, source, distil
and learn from the student that pass through the system.
Learner-Centered Facility
An institution should be, not as an object but as a device, an infrastructure that
engages, is experienced, and exhibits a phenomenal feeling through the students journey in
learning. The building is designed to be porous and breathable, be permeable enough to
allow connections.
As a Filipino school for 2040, the consideration on the agglomeration of many races
to study all over the world is considered, which gives way to a new typology of building that
will accommodate these different people, especially the locals that will benefit from the
new school. The intention of the new building typology is to avoid the problems of the
present school that is experiencing poor ventilation, monotonous and enclosed corridors
that to not stimulate creativity among the students. The aim was to generate active
transitional spaces which can be occupied and fill the voids.
Strategies according to defferent orientations. The building form will be treated differently
according to different orientations on which the areas gaining the most heat will be
buffered to lessen heat gains of the building and in the area that catches more breeze, the
building will allow passive cooling to help heat circulate accordingly.
Treatment on Site. The main intention was to lessen the bore of plain court fields and give
dynamism to the school so that the environment itself will help stimulate the learning and
creativity of the students. Dynamic landscapes with different textures and shapes is the
solution in reinventing the Filipino school of 2040.