Lead Proponent: Marilou J. Taňada
Co-Proponent:
Research Agenda
Category: Teaching and Learning
Subject: Science
Office/School: CID Schools Division Office of
Balanga

The performance of the Philippines in the international assessments are below the international benchmark performances. It showed that the education system in the Philippines lagged behind the other countries globally. The results of an international survey called the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) showed that Filipino youth ranked second to last in math and science while last in reading.

This 2018 PISA is a student assessment of 15-year-old learners across 79 countries done by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD, 2018). This worrisome scenario echoes findings from the 2013 PISA and Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), reinforcing the urgent need for comprehensive educational reforms (World Bank Report, 2013). The government has been exhausting efforts to address this learning crisis in the education system and another challenge arises in the field of education system when this pandemic attacks the country due to COVID-19.

The start of the pandemic, as eloquently discussed by Teresita TanhuecoTumapon in The Manila Times on June 4, 2020, intensified these challenges. The pandemic prompted a swift shift to the “new normal” in education, marked by lockdowns, quarantines, and the adoption of various safety measures. This necessitated a reimagining of traditional teaching methods, with schools adapting to Modular Distance Learning, Online Distance Learning, Radio-based instruction, and Blended Learning. The pandemic also acted as a catalyst for digitization, transforming the education landscape globally and forcing institutions to transition to online teaching
methodologies (Saxena, 2020).

Amidst these challenges, the study focuses on the teaching practices in Science during the school year 2020-2021, specifically examining elementary and secondary Science teachers in the Schools Division of Balanga City. Recognizing the fundamental role of teachers in the implementation of the K to 12 Science curriculum, the study aimed to explore effective strategies and approaches. Understanding the dynamics of teaching practices in the context of the “new normal” and the evolving educational landscape is crucial for enhancing the quality of education in the Philippines and addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by teachers, students, and parents.