SCIENCE,

TECHNOLOGY,
AND SOCIETY
(LESSON 3)

Science Education in the

Philippines
Introduction
– The Philippines is trying best to improve the state of
science education in the country. This lesson will discuss
the concept of science education and will identify some
strategies to promote science education in the country.
One of the strategies is to establish science school that
will encourage students to pursue their career in science
and technology and to nurture their gifted potentials in
science.
The Concept of Science
Education
– Science education focuses on teaching, learning, and
understanding science. Teaching science involves
developing ways on how to effectively teach science.
This means exploring pedagogical theories and models in
helping teachers teach scientific concepts and progresses
effectively. Learning science, on the other hand, includes
both pedagogy and the most interest aspect, which is
helping students understanding and love science.
– Understanding science implies developing and applying
science-process skills and using literacy in understanding the
nature world and activities in everyday life.
– Getting deeper into the discourse of science education, John
Dewey (2001) stressed the importance of utilizing the
natural environment to teach students. Accordingly, nature
must indeed furnish its physical stimuli provide wealth of
meaning through social activities and thinking. It is not
surprising therefore that science education is important. In
fact, Marx (1994) opines that science is going to be one of
the most important school subject in the future.
❖Science education is justified by the vast amount
of scientific knowledge in this area that prepares
citizens in a scientifically and technologically
driven world. Science education provides skills and
knowledge that are necessary for a person to live in
what Knight (1986) describes as the age of science
and to develop a citizenry that will meet the goals
of science in the society (Tilghman, 2005).
Developing science culture is therefore an immense
responsibility for school.
Science School in the
Philippines
– One outstanding program for science education
supported by the government is the establishment
of science school in various parts of the country.
There are also several governments programs
implemented by the Department of Education and
few private schools for science education
Philippines Science High School
System (PSHSS)
– This is a government program for gifted students in the
Philippines. Its is a service institute of the Department
of Science and Technology (DOST) whose mandate is
to offer free scholarship basis for secondary course
with special emphasis on subject pertaining to the
science, with the end-view of preparing its students for
a science for a science career (Republic Act No. 3661).
The school maintain a dormitory for all its students.
– Since its inception, the PSHSS continues to pursue its vision to
develop Filipino science scholar with scientific minds and
passion for excellence. PSHSS students have proven to be a
beacon of excellence, courage, and hope for country. They
have brought honor to the Philippines through their exemplary
achievements in various international competitions and
research circles. When the students graduate from the school,
they are excepted to pursue degree in science and technology
at various colleges and universities locally or abroad.
Special Science Elementary
Schools (SSES) Project
– The Special Science Elementary Schools (SSES) Project
is a pursuance to DepEd Order No. 73 s. 2008, and
DepEd Order No, 51identified elementary schools that
participated or were identified as science elementary
schools in the country. Since its inception, the number
have grown to more than 60 schools nationwide and this
is now its sixth year of implementation.
❖ The SSES Project aims to develop Filipino children
equipped with scientific and technology 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 developments of lifelong learning skills;
and
• Foster the holistic development of the learners.
▪ The subject Science and Health is taught in Grade 1
with a longer time compared to other subjects: 70
minutes for Grade I to III and 80 minutes for Grade
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.
Quezon City Regional Science
High School
– The school was established on September 17, 1967.
Originally, it was named Quezon City Science High
School was a product of a dream to establish a special
science school for talented students in science and
mathematics. The focus of the curriculum is no science
and technology, the school still teaches the basic
education course prescribed by the Department of
Education (DepEd) for secondary education.
▪ However, there are additional subjects in science and
technology that students should take. The school
envisions to serve as a venue in providing maximum
opportunities for science-gifted students to develop
spirit of inquiry and activity. The school is well-
supported by the local government unit and by the
Parents and Teacher Association (PTA). The school
is under the Department of Education.
Manila Science High School

– The school was established on October 1, 1963 as the

Manila Science High School (MSHS). It is the first
science high school in the Philippines. 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. The school administer 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,
problem-solving test in mathematics, and proficiency
in English. The school prides itself from producing
outstanding alumni and for winning various national
competitions.
Central Visayan Institute
Foundation
– It is the home and pioneer of the prominent
school-based innovation known as the Dynamic
Learning Program (DLP). The DLP is a synthesis
of classical and modern pedagogical theories
adapted to foster the highest level of learning,
creativity, and productivity.
– The school takes pride in its Research Center for
Theoretical Physics (RTCP) established in 1992,
which organizes small international workshops to
foster the informal but intense exchanges of ideas
and perspectives on outstanding problem in physics
and mathematics.