Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is pushing for the idea of having at least one public math and science high school in all provinces in the Philippines.

According to Gatchalian, this is to help address the stagnation of Filipino learners’ mathematical and scientific literacy, as shown in the latest round of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).

Gatchalian made this pitch in the proposed Equitable Access to Math and Science Education Act, embodied in Senate Bill (SB) No. 476. Under the proposed measure, at least one public math and science high school shall be established in provinces that do not have them.

In the 2022 round of PISA, the Philippines ranked 76th out of 81 countries in mathematics. While the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) average in mathematics is 472, the Philippines scored a dismal 355.

In terms of science, the Philippines ranked 79th out of 81. The OECD average in science is 485, and the Philippine just scored 356.

When it comes to mathematics, 84 percent of 15-year-old learners are below the minimum proficiency. In science, 77 percent of students are below the minimum level of proficiency.

Gatchalian sounded the alarm that if Filipino students’ scientific and mathematical literacy remains below proficiency level, the country will not have a solid workforce of competent scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and other skilled professionals who will be instrumental in the country’s full industrialization and prosperity.

He also warned that without a scientifically literate workforce, the country will not have a robust research and development sector that could elevate the Philippines’ income status.

“Kung mapapatayuan natin ng pampublikong math at science high school ang bawat probinsya sa bansa, maibibigay natin sa mas maraming mga kabataan ang klase ng edukasyong kinakailangan ng mga susunod na scientists, engineers, mathematicians, at iba pang mga propesyonal sa ating bansa (If we will build public math and science high schools in every province in the country, we can give the youth the kind of education that is needed by the next scientists, engineers, mathematicians and other professionals in the country),” said Gatchalian.

Schools that will be established under Gatchalian’s proposed measure shall implement a full six-year integrated junior-senior high school curriculum, which will focus on advanced science, mathematics, and technology subjects under the guidance of the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

This curriculum shall be based on the revised curriculum of the Philippine Science High School System for Grades 7 to 12.

Graduates of public math and science high schools established in compliance with the proposed measure must enroll in fields such as pure and applied sciences, mathematics, engineering, technology, or any other field deemed appropriate by the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd).