435 high schools allotted P330 M to improve Science teaching

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) allocated recently P330 million for school year 2011-2012 for the production of assorted Science equipment for the ultimate improvement in the teaching of Science subjects initially in 435 poor performing public high schools nationwide, it was learned here recently.

A DepEd directive from Education Secretary Armin Luistro received here recently by the office of Region 10 director Luz Almeda said the instructional devices are designed to upgrade students’ learning and appreciation of Science concepts and their applications.

Almeda quoted the DepEd chief as stressing that “the training is very important for the Science teachers to master the use and application of the new Science equipment as well as the maintenance procedures to ensure long-term use of these instructional devices.”

Luistro tasked the NSTIC, together with regional Science supervisors and Bureau of Secondary Education representatives, to review and finalize the experiment and the repair and maintenance manuals which will be utilized for subsequent regional training workshops in the country’s 17 regions.

The NSTIC and the NSTIC-trained regional trainors were also required later to train one teacher in each of the Science subject areas of Biology, Integrated Science, Chemistry and Physics in each of the 435 recipient learning institutions, Luistro sad.

According to Luistro, a stronger science and technology curriculum in basic education is a major part of the ten-point education agenda of President Aquino who strongly called for the production of secondary school graduates who are geared towards science and technology-driven economy.