The State of Science Education in the Philippines Today (as seen on local TV)

[rodsky]

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Here's a good status check of astronomy/space education in the Philippines today. A few minutes ago, on a noontime gameshow segment called "Susi ng Kapalaran", a series of clues were asked that led to an answer, sort of like 20 questions. Usually, contestants could guess the answer with only 1 or 2 clues. And then, out of the blue, for the category "PROFESSION", came this clue:

First clue, Space Shuttle - someone guessed 'PILOT', which was close, but he got ejected

Second clue, outer space - someone guessed something, can't recall the answer but I bet it was hilarious because the audience and hosts laughed, player ejected

Third clue, (I forgot the clue, but I do remember realizing at this point that no one had gotten the correct answer yet...shakes head)

Fourth clue, Neil Armstrong - someone guessed 'ACE' Of what player ejected

Fifth and final clue, naka-spacesuit (wearing a spacesuit) - someone actually answered 'ATLANTIS'! player ejected

So NOBODY got the correct answer, despite all FIVE clues.

In light of this tragic state of affairs, I now hereby declare Astronomy/Space Exploration now officially NON-EXISTENT in the minds of the average Filipino.

Wait a second, do YOU even know the answer to the question?

And people here sometimes wonder why masuko ko if science wasn't being taken seriously *shakes head*

-RODION

[hexo]

You can't blame them, there's not much interest in general science how much more on astronomy or space travel.
although i've always thought that an Astronaut was supposed to be a very popular profession especially among kids. oh well.

[gareb]

rodsky:

i have never been a fan of game shows due to the number of conflicting interests that it goes through, producing the distorted image of people's education and average Filipino intelligence and know-how. in fact, i have long ago concluded that it is useless even as an unscientific sample of what this nation keeps in between its ears.

sadly, this is not confined to what the people know about astronomy but in every other field as well. there was this list circulating around facebook about the answers to a particular game show. a thread also exists on how "Pinoy Henyo" was showcasing "pinoy genius." it's laughable, annoying and sad.

https://www.istorya.net/forums/tvs-an...education.html

i want to blame commercialization and the dumbing down of the Filipino psyche through this endless rating wars feeding us telenovela crap and brainless gameshows, and the commodification of the entertainment derived from other people's failures, at the same time about the limitations of the philosophy of the importance of education is taught as a way to get good jobs.

but doing so gets us more enemies than we can handle.

[emailroy2002]

unsay answer ana astronaut? cosmonaut?

[ingkiang]

although i've always thought that an Astronaut is supposed to be a very popular profession especially among kids. oh well.

same here...i always thought na popular ang Astronaut sa mga kids.

[fritzd]

same here...i always thought na popular ang Astronaut sa mga kids.

Me too. It sure was during my time that's why I decided to become a physicist. Although, I've accepted the fact that I can never be an astronaut anyway. Times change.

[redhorse1L]

What we always observed in gametime shows where players who have poor education. No professional would have guts to join willing willy or eat bulaga.

I don't think it is happening with younger generations.

With the easy media access and a load of kids' educational videos (dora, barney, blues clues), kids learn faster nowadays.

Heck, my 4 yr old kid already memorizes the planets of our solar system.

[moy1moy1]

What we always observed in gametime shows where players who have poor education. No professional would have guts to join willing willy or eat bulaga.

I don't think it is happening with younger generations.

With the easy media access and a load of kids' educational videos (dora, barney, blues clues), kids learn faster nowadays.

Heck, my 4 yr old kid already memorizes the planets of our solar system.

I hate the barney part. HAHA

kidding aside, YES, this gametime shows exploit the inability of the masses for the entertainment of the masses. Sometimes I wonder, how come they're so proud of this line: "In times of tragedy, we still smile and laugh to ease our pains".

Pfft.

i want to blame commercialization and the dumbing down of the Filipino psyche through this endless rating wars feeding us telenovela crap and brainless gameshows, and the commodification of the entertainment derived from other people's failures, at the same time about the limitations of the philosophy of the importance of education is taught as a way to get good jobs.

but doing so gets us more enemies than we can handle.

^This

esp.

the very thought of how people see education as getting good jobs instead of loving good jobs through education.

Scenario:

"Anak, pag ENGINEERING/ABOGADO/NAUTICAL nalang, dali raka kitag trabaho. Madato pajud ta"

"But Mom? I like to study Graphics and Media/Fine Arts/Marine Biology"

"Cge, tumana imung gusto kai di tika paiskwelahaun"

*True story bro-

[rodsky]

With the easy media access and a load of kids' educational videos (dora, barney, blues clues), kids learn faster nowadays.

No problem for those with the means to acquire such items to aid/supplement whatever education the kids are getting from Philippine schools nowadays. This discussion is more focused on the state of science education in the Philippines as a whole, and what sort of science education is being offered in PUBLIC elementary and PUBLIC high schools in the country, because in these schools, it's in here where you can find the bulk of the pupils and high school students of the Philippines. These kids will be the "next generation" of this country as a MAJORITY, and NOT the privileged kids who have access to Dora, Barney and Blues Clues.

-RODION

[gareb]

i think we can agree that there is a problem with the educational system and how science is taught (or not taught) in schools.

aside from pointing out the obvious political and socio-economic aspects of the problem (something that i have done a lot of times in the boards), a problem that i see is on how reality is experienced and how it reinforces a child's interest in a particular subject matter.

e.g. a space shuttle is more "unreal" that say, cock fighting in the kanto, so it is not hard to imagine why a number of kids might gravitate to this and other things that are within their arms' reach.

as long as science (or even history for that matter) remains to them as meaningless facts, dates and events that they cannot relate to the experiences that they have with their daily lives, it would be near impossible to assume to learn anything from it, much less use it.