CHAPTER

3 LESSON 2: SCIENCE EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

Lesson Objectives: At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
 discuss concept of science education;
 identify science schools established to promote science education in the Philippines

ENGAGE

Describe what was it like in your science classes when you were in high school?
What do you think is the importance of science classes?

Your answer:

DISCUSSION
Science is useful because of its links to technology and industry, which, from a national
perspective, are areas of high priority for development. Science provides ways of making sense of
the world systematically. It develops students’ scientific inquiry skills, values and attitudes, such as
objectivity, curiosity, and honesty and habits of mind including critical thinking. All these are useful
to the individual student for his own personal development, future career, and life in general. These
skills, values, attitudes, and dispositions are likewise useful to the community that an individual
student belongs to, and are further useful to the country that he lives in. The learning of science is
also important for the nation’s cultural development and preservation of its cultural identity.
Science is most useful to a nation when it is utilized to solve its own problems and challenges,
keeping a nation's cultural uniqueness and peculiarities intact. Thus in many countries, science
teaching and learning is linked with culture.

Science Education in Basic Education and Tertiary Education

In basic education, science education helps students learn important concepts and facts
that are related to everyday life (Carale & Campo, 2003; Meador, 2005; Worth & Grollman, 2003)
including important skills such as process skills, critical thinking skills, and life skills that are needed in
coping up with daily life activities (Chaillc & Britain, 2002). Science education also develops positive
attitude such as: the love for knowledge, passion for innovative things, curiosity to study about
nature, and creativity (Lind, 1997). Science education will develop a strong foundation for studying
science and for considering science-related careers in the future. This is an investment for the
country to develop a scientifically cultured and literate citizenry.
In tertiary education Science subjects are included in the General Education curriculum (e.g.
General Biology and Science, Technology and Society) in order to develop students’
understanding and appreciation of science ideas and scientific works. Also, for those pursuing
science-related programs, science education prepares and equips them for their profession in the
future.
Science Schools in the Philippines
In order to strengthen and support the science education of the country, science schools
were established in the country. Here are some of the following:
 Philippine Science High School
This is a service institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). It is
considered as one of the of the top science high schools in the Association of South East
Asian Nations. One of its mandate is to offer free scholarship basis for secondary course with
special emphasis on subjects pertaining to the sciences, with the end-view of preparing its
students for a science career (Republic Act No. 3661). When the students graduate from
the school, they are expected to pursue degrees in science and technology at various
colleges and universities locally or abroad. In the country, PSHS has 16 campuses. PSHSS
students have proven to be a beacon of excellence, courage, and hope for the country.
They have brought honor to the Philippines through their exemplary achievements in various
international competitions and research circles.

 Special Science Elementary School Project

The Special Science Elementary Schools (SSES) Project is in pursuance to DepEd Order
No. 73 s. 2008, and DepEd Order No. 51 s. 2010. This project aims to develop Filipino children
equipped with scientific and technological knowledge, skills, and values. Its mission is to
provide a learning environment to science-inclined children through a special curriculum
that recognizes the multiple intelligences of the learners; promote the development of
lifelong learning skills; and foster the holistic development of the learners.
The subject Science and Health is taught in Grade I with a longer time compared to
other subjects: 70 minutes for Grades I to III and 80 minutes for Grades IV to VI. The curriculum
also utilizes different instructional approaches that address the learning styles and needs of
the learners like the use of investigatory projects.

 Manila Science High School

The school was established on October 1, 1963 and is considered as the first science
high school in the Philippines. MSHS was patterned after the Bronx Science High School of
New York. The organization and curriculum of the school puts more emphasis on science
and mathematics. MSHS aims to produce scientists with souls. In order to do this, humanities
courses and other electives are included in their curriculum. Students are also encouraged
to participate in various extracurricular activities.
References:

Serafica, J. J., Pawilen, G. T., Caslib, B. N., & Alata, E. P. (2018). Science, Technology, and Society.
Sampaloc, Manila: Rex Book Store, Inc.

Taguiling, M. (2019). Science, Technology and Society. Plaridel, Bulacan: St. Andrew Publishing
House.
Name:_________________________________________________________
Program, Yr., and Section:________________________________

ACTIVITY 10: Answer the following. You can place your answers in this sheet or create/save in a
separate file.

1. Identify one government project or program available for science education in the Philippines. Include
details of this program or project. You can answer this in narrative form or in infographics form.

In the country, the state of science education is underprivileged behind other countries in the
world. The results of the Second International Science Study (SISS) and Third International Mathematics
and Science Study (TIMSS) placed the Philippines in disadvantaged positions among participating
nations (Philippine Department of Education, Culture, and Sports et al. 2000). The Philippines ranked
almost at the bottom of the list of seventeen (17) nations which took part in this large-scale evaluation
of educational achievement. National achievement test (NAT) results conducted from 2004-2012
shows a fluctuating scores in science but still it is below from the passing rate that the Department of
Education established (The National Achievement Test in the Philippines, 2013).

2. The portion of the article above gives a glimpse of the status of the science education of our country.
If you are one of the heads involved in the education sector, what program will you implement in
order to improve the quality of science education of the country? Give details of it.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________