DepEd doubles science schools

MANILA, Philippines – Education Secretary Armin Luistro reported yesterday that the Department of Education (DepEd) had doubled the number of public science elementary schools from 100 to 200 this school year to expand the elementary education program with a strong emphasis on science.

Luistro said the 100 new special science elementary schools (SSES) consist of Special Education (SPED) Centers with programs for the gifted and the talented and selected regular schools that have passed the SSES screening procedures.

“We feel that it is time to add more science-oriented schools in addition to the first SSES in 2007 which was composed of 57 schools and another 43 in 2009, because we need to train more scientists to support national development,” said Luistro.

President Aquino’s 10-point education agenda includes the focus on science education.

“We support the vision of the President to strengthen science education because a strong foundation in the sciences is one of the building blocks of a progressive economy,” Luistro explained.

SSES is a project of DepEd designed to develop Filipino children who are equipped with scientific and technological knowledge and skills plus creative and positive values that will make them catalysts in spurring research and development thrusts.

The science elementary schools offer an enriched curriculum for Mathematics and Science where gifted and talented students are allowed to develop their skills.

Teachers at SSES are trained to teach specialized courses in Math and Science and must be committed to the vision of fully developing the scientific minds of young learners.

SSES are appropriately equipped with laboratories, science apparatus and equipment, information technology-based learning resources as well as Science, Math, English textbooks and supplements.

“We also provide our students with the special science program and co-curricular opportunities to reach their full potential, thus they join science camps, investigatory projects, academic competitions as well as networking with other science-oriented schools both locally and within the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region.”

The SSES curriculum provides longer instruction time for Science.

For Grades 1 to 3, instruction time is 70 minutes. For Grades 4 to 6, it is 80 minutes. The school head or master teacher may further enrich the curriculum if they feel it is necessary to address the needs of the pupils. –Rainier Allan Ronda (The Philippine Star)