<figure class="image-550">
<img src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources-23/second-philippine-commission.avif" alt="Member of the Second Philippine Commission" loading="lazy" />
<figcaption>
Original members of the <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/1581/the-taft-commission-pioneering-civil-governance-in-the-philippines" class="news_link">Second Philippine Commission</a>. From Left to Right: General <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/1449/february-1-1904-luke-e-wright-was-inaugurated-as-civil-governor-of-the-philippines" class="news_link">Luke E. Wright</a>, Professor Dean C. Worcester, Professor Bernard Moses, Judge <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/1717/september-15-1857-william-howard-taft-first-civil-governor-of-the-philippines-was-born-at-cincinnati-ohio" class="news_link">William Howard Taft</a> and Judge <a href="https://kahimyang.com/articles/2897/henry-clay-ide-american-governor-general-of-the-philippines" class="news_link">Henry Ide</a>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>
Key Provisions
</h2>

<ol class="k-list">
<li>
Establishment of the Department of Public Instruction: The act created a centralized Department of Public Instruction with its central office in Manila. This department was responsible for overseeing all primary instruction in the schools established or maintained under this act.
</li>
<li>
Free Primary Education: One of the notable provisions of Act No. 74 was the declaration that all primary instruction in the schools established under this act would be free. This was a significant step towards making education accessible to all Filipino children.
</li>
<li>
Funding for Educational Institutions: The act appropriated funds for the organization and maintenance of various educational institutions:
<ol type="a">
<li>
   $40,000 for a Normal and <a href="https://kahimyang.com/articles/2998/history-of-technological-university-of-the-philippines" class="news_link">Trade School in Manila</a>.
</li>
<li>
   $15,000 for an agricultural school in the island of Negros.
</li>
<li>
Appointment of Educational Officers: The act provided for the appointment of a General Superintendent of Public Instruction, who would be responsible for establishing and reorganizing schools across the archipelago. The General Superintendent was also tasked with appointing city and division superintendents, teachers, and clerks.
</li>
<li>
Curriculum and School Divisions: The General Superintendent was given the authority to fix the curriculum for primary, secondary, and other public schools. Additionally, the archipelago was to be divided into school divisions, with the city of Manila and its barrios constituting one of these divisions.
</li>
</ol>
<h2>
Impact and Legacy
</h2>
<p>
Act No. 74 was instrumental in laying the groundwork for a structured and accessible public education system in the Philippines. By establishing a centralized Department of Public Instruction and providing funding for educational institutions, the act aimed to promote literacy and education among Filipinos. The provision of free primary education was a significant milestone in ensuring that education was accessible to all, regardless of socio-economic status.
</p>
<p>
The act also set the stage for the development of various educational institutions, including normal, trade, and agricultural schools, which played a crucial role in training teachers and providing vocational education. The establishment of a standardized curriculum and the division of the archipelago into school divisions helped create a more organized and efficient education system.
</p>
<h2>
Source:
</h2>
<ol class="article-sources">
<li>
Act No. 74 - Supreme Court E-Library, <a href="https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/28/15605" class="news_link" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph</a>
</li>
</ol>



Act No. 74: Established the Department of Public Instruction


The 1901 Act No. 74 established the Philippine Department of Public Instruction, shaping a modern school system and transforming education under U.S. rule.

January 21, 1901: The Department of Public Instruction in the Philippines was established through Act No. 74