UNIVERSIDAD DE ZAMBOANGA

PAGADIAN BRANCH, INC.

Zone 4, Airport Rd., Brgy Tiguma Pagadian City
Tel No: 215-4206

SCIENCE EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

The Philippines is trying its best to improve the state of science education
in the country. One of the strategies is to establish science schools that will
encourage students to pursue their careers in science and technology and
nurture their gifted potentials.

Science education focuses on teaching, learning, and understanding

science. Teaching science involves exploring pedagogical theories and models in
helping teachers teach scientific concepts and processes effectively. Learning
science includes both pedagogy and helping students understand and love
science. Understanding science implies developing and applying science
process skills and using science literacy in understanding the natural world and
activities in everyday life.

John Dewey argued that “education and learning are social and interactive
processes, and thus school itself is a social institution through which social
reform can and should take place. In addition, he believed that students thrive in
an environment where they are allowed to experience and interact with the
curriculum, and all students should have the opportunity to take part in their own
learning.” (Talebi, 2015)

Science education in basic science helps students learn important

concepts and facts that are related to everyday life (Carale & Campo, 2003;
Meador, 2005; Worth & Grollman, 2003); includes important skills such as
process skills, critical thinking skills, and life skills that are needed in coping up
with daily life activities (Chaille & Britain, 2002); develops positive attitude such
as the love for knowledge, passion for innovative things, curiosity to study about
nature and creativity (Lind, 1997), and develops a strong foundation for studying
science and for considering science-related careers in the future.

On the other hand, science education in tertiary education deals with

developing students’ understanding and appreciation of science ideas and
scientific works and focuses on the preparation of science teachers, scientists,
engineers, and other professionals in various science-related fields such as
engineering, agriculture, medicine, and health sciences. In addition to major
courses, this is also done through offering basic science courses in the General
Education curriculum.

In the field of science education, several science-related programs and

projects were created to develop scientific literacy. These include:

1. Special science classes

2. Special science elementary schools
3. Philippine Science High School System
4. STEM track of the K-12 educational system
5. PICARI project
6. Offering basic science courses in the General Education
curriculum

Science Schools in the Philippines

PHILIPPINE SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEMS (PSHSS)

VISION: We are the leading science high school in the Asia Pacific
Region preparing our scholars to become globally competitive Filipino
scientists equipped with 21st century skills and imbued with the core
values of truth, excellence, and service to nation.

MISSION: The Philippine Science High School, operating under one

System of Governance and Management, provides scholarship to students
with high aptitude in science and mathematics.

The PSHS System offers an education that is humanistic in spirit,

global in perspective, and in orientation. It is based on a curriculum that
emphasizes science and mathematics and the development of well-
rounded individuals.

The PSHS System prepares its students for careers in Science and
Technology and contributes to nation-building by helping the country
attain a critical mass of professionals and leaders in Science and
Technology. It is a government program for gifted students in the
Philippines. It is the service institute of the DOST whose mandate is to offer
 free scholarship basis for the secondary courses with an emphasis on
subjects pertaining to the sciences, with the end-view of preparing its
students for a science career (Republic Act No. 3661)

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.

Graduates of PSHSS were expected to pursue degrees in science

and technology at various colleges and universities locally or abroad.

SPECIAL SCIENCE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS (SSES) PROJECT

MISSION: To provide a learning environment to science inclined children

through a special curriculum that recognizes multiple intelligences and is geared
towards the development of God-loving, nationalistic, creative, ecologically
aware, scientifically and technologically oriented and skilled individuals who are
empowered through lifelong learning skills.

It is in pursuance to DepEd Order No. 73 s. 2008, and DepEd Order No. 51 s.

2010. It started in June, SY 2007-2008: Batch I with 57 identified elementary
school. Another 3 schools in Region V were included since its inception. In SY
2011-2012, the program was again expanded for Batch 3; additional 5 schools in
Region V were included The
SSES Project aims to develop Filipino children equipped with scientific and
technological knowledge, skills, and values. The SSES utilizes Science
curriculum that will provide for the development of lifelong learning skills and
foster the holistic development of the child. The subject Science& Health is
taught starting in Grade1 and provides longer instruction time in Science. In
Grades I-III, 70 minutes and for Grades IV-VI, 80 minutes. The Curriculum also
utilizes varied teaching approaches/strategies to address the multiple
intelligences, learning styles and needs of the learners.

QUEZON CITY REGIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL

Established on September 17, 1967, it was originally named Quezon City

Science High School. It was appointed as the Regional Science High School for
the National Capital Region since 1998. The focus of the curriculum is on science
and technology. The school envisions to serve as a venue in providing maximum
opportunities for science-gifted students to develop spirit of inquiry and
creativity. The school is well-supported by the Local Government Unit and by the
Parents and Teachers Association (PTA). The school is under the Department of
Education.

MANILA SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL

MISSION: To provide relevant and quality education through its Special

Science Curriculum, its empowered school manager and staff, its committed,
dedicated and well-trained learning facilitators and support personnel and its
linkages with various publics for the development of active, productive, morally
upright and development-oriented Filipinos.

VISION: A nerve center of excellence that enables healthy life-long learners

with strong moral, social, cultural and technological foundation to actively
participate in the development of a strong republic.

It was established on October 1, 1963 as the Manila Science High School

(MSHS). It was also the first science high school in the Philippines. The
curriculum of the school puts more emphasis on science and mathematics. It
aims to produce scientists with souls. In order to do this, humanities courses and
other electives are included in their curriculum.

The school administers an entrance exam, the Manila Science High School
Admission Test (MSAT), for students who wish to enroll. The MSAT has five
parts: aptitude in science, aptitude test in mathematics, problem-solving test in
science, problem-solving test in mathematics, and proficiency in English.

CENTRAL VISAYAN INSTITUTE FOUNDATION

MISSION: As the educational arm of the Central Visayan Institute

Foundation, the High School Department shall endeavor to equip each student
with the necessary skills for future work and further studies. It shall develop and
protect each individual's talents and innate creativity, and guide each one
towards the path of fullest realization of potential and creative abilities. It shall
instill in the youth a spirit of service to country and love of God, above all.
 It is the home and pioneer of the prominent school-based innovation
known as the Dynamic Learning Program (DLP), which is a synthesis of classical
and modern pedagogical theories adapted to foster the highest level of learning,
creativity, and productivity.

It takes pride in its Research Center for Theoretical Physics (RCTP)

established in 1992, which organizes small international workshops to foster the
informal but intense exchange of ideas and perspectives on outstanding
problems in physics and mathematics.