Research about the relationship between the science education and the government documents from

NEDA (national and regional agenda)

What is NEDA?

The National Economic and Development Authority is the country’s premier socioeconomic planning
body, highly regarded as the authority in macroeconomic forecasting and policy analysis and research.

How the national and regional agenda of NEDA is related to the science education?

One of the responsibility of NEDA is to formulate plans and policies in line with the growth and
development of our country, taking as a basis the measurement key of Human Development Index (HDI)
such as:

● Life expectancy - a long and healthy life

● Literacy - being knowledgeable
● Economic growth - have a decent standard of living

Since literacy is one of the factors of human development, NEDA plans out policies and programs that
helps in improving our education system. There are specific areas where NEDA supports programs about
science education combining it with technology and innovation since these are the need of our modern
and progressing world.

Vigorously Advancing Science, Technology, and Innovation

Revise education curricula in coordination with the industry, government, and academe to strengthen
science, technology, engineering, agriculture, and mathematics programs. It is important to align these
programs such that they inculcate 21st century skills, competencies and character qualities that are
important for current and future needs of I&S. Upgrading and updating of the skills set of those
employed in traditional job's to include design, technical, and vocational skills will be pursued. The
objective is to maintain demand for Filipino labor even with the introduction of advanced machines and
automation (Refer to Chapter 10).

HEIs were supported during the K to 12 transition period (from SY 2016-2017 to SY 2020-2021), through
various development programs and scholarships and research grants for faculty. The transition period
was also seen as an opportunity to upgrade the qualification of HEI faculty and encourage research and
development (R&D). Of the 4,000 CHED faculty and staff scholars currently supported for Science,
Technology, Engineering, Agriculture and Mathematics (STEAM)-centered graduate studies both locally
and abroad, 40 percent are under the K to 12 Transition Program. In terms of K to 12 Sectoral
Engagement Grants, 22 percent and 10 percent of the 383 grantees since 2016 are in the information
technology (IT) and Engineering disciplines, respectively.

Research and innovation productivity was promoted through the Philippine-California Advanced
Research Institutes (PCARI) Project23 and several R&D projects of CHED, SUCs, and Department of
Science and Technology (DOST). As of 2017, the PCARI has provided 150 scholarships, supported 37 R&D
projects, and enabled trainings and research partnerships in 18 HEIs with five leading research
University of California campuses.24 A Transnational Education partnership between CHED and the
British Council was also launched in early 2018 to provide students and professionals with opportunities
for internationally-recognized postgraduate qualification on niche disciplines that are currently not
available in the Philippines.25 Further, grants will be provided to displaced students and professionals in
Marawi City taking up STEAM courses in undergraduate and postgraduate studies through DOST-Science
Education Institute’s Bangon Marawi Program on Science and Technology Human Resource
Development26 (Refer to Chapter 14 for more discussion on other R&D initiatives of CHED, DOST, and
SUCs).

Accomplishments

In general, the country’s performance in achieving the desired outcomes for the STI sector has been
moderate. Latest available data indicate that four out of nine targets with available data have been
exceeded.

As part of developing a vibrant Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) culture in the country, the government
is strengthening the implementation of a Patent Incentive Package, providing funding support on
intellectual property protection, and conducting various awareness campaigns on the importance of IPR.
In 2017, the country reached the top 33 percent percentile rank in the World Intellectual Property
Organization– Knowledge and Technology Outputs Index, beating the top 34 percent target. In terms of
industrial designs, there were 909 registrations, surpassing the target of 542. However, in 2017, there
were only 19 new Filipino patents and 455 new Filipino utility models registered, falling short of the 33
and 594 targets, respectively.

One of the main goals of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022 is to support the
development of the sectors that used to lag behind – especially farmers, fisherfolks, and micro, small,
and medium enterprises (MSMEs). For the STI sector, the government targeted to provide start-ups and
MSMEs with platforms for technology commercialization such as the establishment of new technology
business incubators (TBIs). This pushed the number of TBI graduates to 56 in 2017, as compared to the
41 graduates recorded in 2016.

To foster a culture of inventiveness and creativity, government has been promoting STI and the creative
arts to young students. In Academic Year 2016-2017, the number of Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Mathematics (STEM) enrollees in higher education institutions (HEIs) reached 1.27 million, higher
than the target of one million enrollees for 2017.

Moreover, the country has established a total of 30 innovation hubs as of end-2017. Although this
slightly fell short of the target of 33, the 43 targeted innovation hubs for 2018 is still achievable as the
government seeks to strengthen STI infrastructure development.
Open collaboration among actors in the STI ecosystem is also being strengthened to some extent. In
2017, the government engaged 33 new Balik Scientists, only a tad lower than the target of 39. The
country is still on track of its target of top 50 percent in the University – Industry Collaboration
percentile rank (in the World Economic Forum Competitiveness Report), despite dropping from 52.5
percent in 2016 to 51 percent 2017.

Moving Forward

Promoting and accelerating technology adoption

STI utilization in the agriculture, industry, and services sectors increased.

Outputs of STI activities are not brought to the market at once. The commercialization or the transfer of
outputs of innovation activities to the mainstream market and to the public remains difficult. Many
innovation outputs lie dormant and underutilized. The information dissemination activities particularly
on available technologies remain low, while government campaigns are fragmented.

Acknowledging these challenges, the government will aggressively facilitate promotion, marketing, and
commercialization of STI outputs. Higher budget will be earmarked for technology transfer and
commercialization programs such as science fairs, exhibits, invention contests, technology transfer days,
etc. Full use of the said budget will be ensured. The Technology for Innovation and Commercialization
Program will continue to provide financial and technical support for the improvement and
commercialization of research and development (R&D) results. In addition, the Department of Science
and Technology (DOST), in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications
Technology (DICT), will establish a central online repository of technology information for the sharing of
and access to technologies and knowledge. The government will also actively promote the online
repository to the public.

The country is still characterized with weaknesses and inadequacy in STI human capital.

Latest data showed that the country has only 270 researchers for every one million population in 2013.
This is below the UNESCO norm of 380 per million population and the 1,020 researchers per million
population average in East Asia and the Pacific.

More funding will be provided for Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture, and Mathematics
(STEAM) scholarships.

Science and Technology (S&T) scholarship programs will be strengthened to encourage students to
pursue STEAM. Specialized STI training will also be expanded. Student Financial Assistance Programs will
be used to shephered more scholars/enrollees to get into STEAM areas. Improving the K to 12 Transition
Program should also lead to more study grants for STEAM scholars. Moreover, the government should
establish more science high schools and science section institutions to help increase STI employment in
the country.

Acronyms used
HEI - Higher Education Institution

STEAM- Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture, and Mathematics

STI- Science Technology and Innovation

Source: Socioeconomic Report 2017 Facilitating TRANSITION, Implementing CHANGE

(chapter 10 and 14)