A Roundtable Discussion on the Science Curriculum Framework for Basic Education and the Framework for Teacher Education, held June 20, 2008 at the STTC Auditorium, UP NISMED was conducted to validate the content of the teaching exemplars vis-à-vis the proposed Science Curriculum Framework for Basic Education and the features of the Framework for Science Teacher Education.

The occasion was graced by the members of the Philippine Science Framework Core Group led by Dr. Ester B. Ogena, Director of the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) and selected staff of UP NISMED, which comprise the Technical Working Group. The Core Group consists of scientists, science researchers, science supervisors, science teachers and heads of professional science teacher organizations. Dr. William O. Malitao, OIC of the Office of Programs and Standards of CHED, also delivered a message.   

In her message, Dr. Ogena emphasized the need to launch these two frameworks at the national level.  She underscored the collaborative nature of the task of formulating these two frameworks, thus it is not only the Core Group but the Department of Education as well who has the ownership of these documents.  She also commented that these frameworks are advocacy documents and are quite ambitious compared with what is reality in the field. However, she noted that both frameworks give a mindset and direction for those who lead the science education community.

Dr. Marlene B. Ferido presented the guiding principles, key features, the curriculum components, the process of development of the sample teaching plans for each grade level, and the features of the teaching plans of the Science Curriculum Framework for Basic Education.  Dr. Merle C. Tan presented the Framework for Science Teacher Education, its rationale, problems and issues related to science teacher education, guiding principles in its development, the standards for an effective science teacher in terms of professional knowledge, professional practice, and professional attributes, the rubrics for evaluating the performance of science teachers, and inservice teacher professional development programs to strengthen the science teaching profession.

The open forum held after the presentations drew comments and suggestions regarding issues related to both frameworks and was concluded with a synthesis of these issues and the succeeding steps to be undertaken. 

A summit on science and mathematics education will be organized by the DOST-SEI in August 2008 to present the following: Science Framework for Basic Education, Mathematics Framework for Basic Education, Framework for Science Teacher Education and the Framework for Mathematics Teacher Education. Representatives from teacher education institutions, school principals, and stakeholders from the private sector will be invited to this summit. Thereafter, these advocacy documents will be presented to the Presidential Task Force on Education.

Key participants to the roundtable discussion

Dr. Marlene Ferido presents the Science Curriculum Framework for Basic Education