2nd Science on the Move opens here

CEBU, Philippines – The best way to teach Science and Technology is to let students enjoy hands-on experience while promoting self-discovery of the wonders this subject has brought to our lives.

As there is the urge to propel students to excel in the field of Sci-Tech, this becomes one of the reasons why various offices and departments in Cebu have welcomed the second visit of the “Science on the Move” here.

 This first interactive science museum in the country was formally opened to the public especially to the students and the teachers with over 40 featured exhibits, this time, compared to the last time it was taken here.

The Philippine Foundation for Science and Technology together with the Department of Education-7 and the Cebu City Division, Cebu Children’s Museum Foundation, Negros Navigation and the city government launched the science museum at the Cebu City Sports Center where it will run for more than a month.

Lawyer Ernesto Albano, corporate secretary of the PFST, said that even before, advancement in sci-tech has spurred growth and development. They wish for interest in science and technology among today’s youth to grow and deepen side by side with progress.

“We have to have a youth with the mindset of science and technology,” he added.

Engr. Filemon Berba, president of the PFST, said that they also wish to focus on the teachers so that they would be able to impart more information to their students.

As for Celestino Jimenez, Cebu City Schools assistant superintendent, he said though that there is a lack of teachers handling the subject, especially in public schools, but they have already addressed the problem through the certificate program wherein teachers are given a scholarship to specialize more on the transmittal of skills in relation to sci-tech.

Jimenez said that they already have graduates from last year who focused on Science and Math subjects. He also mentioned that students from Cebu are doing well in terms of achievement tests and have improved from previous records. Through the exhibit, they wish to help the students gain more information.

According to him, exposure of the students to such kind of exhibit, may they be from private or public schools, is very limited because also of the limited resources and learning facilities.

City consultant on education Joy Augustus Young said that the exhibit though would help the students because the “best way to teach Science is by experience”, and through the museum they are able to see and touch the featured exhibits as it is a “self-discovery, hands-on science exhibition.”

Young also said that the thrust of the city government is to prioritize education especially science and to take up the challenge to bring the subject to all levels, not only in elementary and high school, but as early as preschool.

The museum is open from 8 a.m. to noontime and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday until August 15 at the Cebu City Sports Center with an entrance fee of P50 per head. — AJ dela Torre/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)