Topic: The Importance of Science Education for Elementary Pupils in the

Philippines

Learning Outcomes/Objectives: At the end of this topic, you should be able to:

 Discuss the importance of science education for elementary pupils in the

Philippines

Content

The Importance of Science Education for Elementary Pupils in the Philippines

Science is important to everyone. It makes learner’s use their wondering

minds to discover things that they see around. Science, in a way, develops their
scientific skills, attitudes, and values. These skills, may it be cognitive, psychomotor,
and affective, are useful to their own personal growth and development, for their
future career, and of course, their life in general. These skills, values, and attitudes
are also relevant and are in great help in their community and to the country that they
live in. As they grow up in the modern world and the advancement of technology,
they need to be scientifically literate to succeed.

According to the Science Framework for Philippines Basic Education, actively

engaging learners in science helps them to develop good attitudes and dispositions.
Science education helps students to develop skills and attitudes such as:

 Inquiry skills
- Asking questions, conducting investigations, employing different
strategies to obtain information, and communicating results.
- “hands-on, minds-on” process
- Collect and organize data and communicate investigations and formulate
explanations or models based on results of investigations.
- Analyzing and evaluating information, procedures, and claims.
- Make decisions based on sound judgment and logical reasoning.

 Scientific Attitudes
o Critical thinking – asking “why” and “how” questions where they also
accept answers based from the supported observations, facts found in
books or other reliable sources.
o Curiosity – there questions are being answered by conducting
investigations and experiments, consulting references, and testing
things.

ESSU-ACAD-501|Version 2 Page 1 of 3
Effectivity Date: March 1, 2019
 o Creativity – the ability to create something new or different
o Intellectual Honesty – being truthful about reporting and recording the
actual results of an investigation.
o Accuracy – being careful in recording data or the results from what
they have learned for it to become reliable.
o Objectivity – able to deal with facts or conditions as they are without
being bias or being swayed by his/her feelings, prejudices, and
explanations.
o Independent Thinking – using his/her own observations and
experiences. He/she looks for relevant data or information.
o Active Listening – participates in discussions, exerts effort to listen to
what other people are saying even if it opposes his/her viewpoint,
demonstrate understanding.
o Assuming Responsibility – every member has a certain task to
perform.
o Taking Initiative – voluntarily takes action without waiting for the order
of others.
o Perseverance – keeps on trying in the face of failures.

Science education also helps students to think critically, be open-minded,

invent new and original ideas, to take risk, and become honest. These skills are
integral to every aspects of learner’s education and in life for they will be useful in
their future careers.

In the year 1957, science became part of the curriculum from Grades 1 to 6.
Science education is one of the important subjects in school due to its relevance to
students’ lives. Science education imparts skills and knowledge to the learners to
enable them to make for a living.

The Republic Act No. 2067, also known as the “Science Act of 1958”, section
2 of this act states that: “To promote scientific and technological research and
development, foster invention, and utilize scientific knowledge as an effective
instrument for the promotion of national progress.”

Science education played an important role in bringing about economic

growth and development of a country. For many years, science education has helped
the Philippines develop a workforce to support the demands of industry, agriculture,
service, and the academe. Recognizing the importance of science education, several
intervention programs have been initiated by the Department of Science and
Technology (DOST) and other councils/agencies in the recent years.

Recognizing the importance of science education in the Philippines, the

Department of Education’s K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum aims science
teaching to develop learner’s scientific literacy to enable them to participate
effectively as citizens in the modern societies where they live in. Science is included

ESSU-ACAD-501|Version 2 Page 2 of 3
Effectivity Date: March 1, 2019
as a core element in elementary and secondary levels. In elementary, science is
being taught starting from Grade 3 to 6 with spiral progression approach. Learning of
science is also important to 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 nation’s cultural uniqueness and peculiarities
intact.

The importance of science education for elementary pupils helps them

develop the so-called scientific literacy as well to motivate them to pursue careers
in the field of science, technology and engineering. Through science education,
Filipino students would be able to succeed in school, participates in various local and
international science competitions, projects, and exhibitions.

References:

https://academicpartnerships.uta.edu/articles/education/importance-of-science-
education.aspx

SEI-DOST & UP NISMED, (2011). Science framework for philippine basic education.
Manila: SEI-DOST & UP NISMED.

Trans. Natl. Acad. Sci. & Tech. Philippines 29: 202-211 (2007)

https://elementaryschoolassemblies.com/assembly-programs/importance-teaching-
science-children/

https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1958/ra_2067_1958.html

ESSU-ACAD-501|Version 2 Page 3 of 3
Effectivity Date: March 1, 2019