SCIENCE,

TECHNOLOGY,
AND SOCIETY
Science Education in the
Philippines

Prepared by:
SHARMINA G. MANAMPAN
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 an 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.