Teachers' Expectations, Challenges and Problems with Grade 7 Science in the K-12 Curriculum in the Philippines

Master's Thesis from the year 2017 in the subject Didactics - Biolology, grade: 1.0, , course: Master of Arts in Education, language: English, abstract: The study assessed the teachers' expectations, problems, and challenges with Grade 7 Science in the K-12 Basic Education Curriculum. It also examines what assistance is provided by the administrators. The study was conducted in two National High Schools in the Philippines for the school year 2015-2016. This study used descriptive research design which employed the mixed method using questionnaire which was substantiated with the semi-structured interview and focus group discussion. The findings revealed that the teachers have high expectations particularly on the assessment of learning, teaching strategies, benefits to learners, nature of the curriculum and teaching approaches for the Grade 7 Science in the K-12 Basic Education Curriculum. The teachers were mostly challenged in developing instructional materials, providing activities that would master the competencies or skills of the learners, disciplining learners and making remedial activities. The Grade 7 Science Teachers encountered problems with learners who do not submit written outputs, students' difficulty in expressing their ideas, they do not bring materials for the experiment and they lack competence in teaching the core subjects. The Administrators provided assistance to the Grade 7 Science Teachers by sending the said teachers to training and seminar; providing them with worksheets on various science activities from LRMDS Website/internet; and in the production of test papers for the summative test.