Dominican Philosophy of Education

Introduction

Education is one of the priorities of the Dominican Province of the Philippines because it is among the most important means of evangelization and has been, historically and by God's providence, an integral element of the mission of the Dominicans in the Philippines.

Purpose of Education

Education encompasses religious, personal, and social goals.

Education is an extension of the Church's mission of evangelization. As such, its purpose is to bring out the salvific dimensions of the arts, science, technology and culture. It aims at the synthesis of faith and culture, of faith and life. It seeks to deepen faith as it develops reason leading to an appreciation and living of Gospel values

For the society, education nurtures culture and serve as catalyst of change and development.

For the person, education is meant to bring out his/ her total and integral development. Ultimately education enables the person to attain the purpose for which he/ she was created, namely, union with God, communion with others, and harmony with creation.

As a Dominican mission, education is a form of preaching ministry borne out and nourished by the pillars of the Dominican life: study, prayer, community life, and service.

Nature of the learner

The learner is God's creation, made to His image and likeness, therefore, basically good. He/ she was entrusted the task of being a steward of creation. Although wounded by sin, he/she has been redeemed and endowed with the grace to live a life in Christ.

The learner is a person, an individual unique in him/ herself but with an inherently social nature.

As a Filipino learner, he/she is characterized by a set of traits or asal: dangal, damdamin, pakikipagkapwa, and distinguished by a set of values: utang na loob, palabra de honor, pakikisama, hiya, bayanihan, etc., challenged existentially by the widespread poverty and injustice.

The challenge for the Filipino learner is to develop kagandahang loob by becoming more and more makadiyos, makatao, makabayan and makakalikasan. Moreover, he/ she is challenged to cope with the demands of the times triggered by a global, highly technological, and materialistic culture.

Nature of Education

Education is integral, concerned with the total formation of the human person in all dimensions.

Education is self-initiated and self- motivated process. It occurs in the learner and ends in the learner. The teacher is but a facilitator of learning.

Education is about learning to learn, to live, to love, and to leave a legacy.

Filipino Dominican Educational Apostolate Mission and Vision.

MISSION

Inspired by the Mission of the Dominican Province of the Philippines, we, the brethren with our cooperators engaged in the educational ministry, commit ourselves to promote education as a form of evangelization for the total and integral development of the person in the service of the church and society through an authentic Filipino Dominican way nourished by our study, prayer, and community life.

VISION

We envision an effective and efficient system of collaboration of all DPP educational institutions in all areas of our academic endeavors aimed at enhancing the growth and development of each institution and the furtherance of the evangelizing mission of the province.