Philippine Normal University

The Philippine Normal University is a public research university in Manila, Philippines established during the early days of American colonial rule. Pursuant to Republic Act No. 9647, it is now funded and operated as a National Center for Teacher Education in the country.HistoryEarly historyThe Philippine Normal University was originally established as the Philippine Normal School by virtue Act No. 74 of the Philippine Commission. Enacted on 21 January 1901, Act No. 74 mandated for the establishment of a normal and trade school. The Philippine Normal School formally opened on 1 September 1901, as an institution for the training of teachers.Conversion into collegeFor more than two decades, PNS offered a two-year general secondary education program. It was only in 1928 when it became a junior college offering a two-year program to graduates of secondary schools. When PNS was converted into the Philippine Normal College (PNC) in 1949 through Republic Act No. 416, also known as the PNC Charter, the four-year Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (BSEE) program was introduced. Subsequently, other undergraduate programs ensued, such as the Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE) with specialization in Elementary Education; a BSEE major in Home Economics; and a three-year Combined Home Economics diploma. In 1953, the Graduate School was established. Equipped with a legal mandate, PNC included the Master of Arts (MA) in Education curriculum in the academic program. However, the organization of a full-fledged Graduate School came five years later.