Learning Physics as tool for economic growth

MANILA, Philippines - In an increasingly knowledge and technology-based global community, science and innovative technology have become increasingly important as drivers of economic growth.

For the Philippines to be able to take advantage of the opportunities in the globalized economy, it is important that it produce more scientists and engineers among its graduates. 

Studies showed the Philippines only produces 157 scientists and engineers in research and development per one-million population, a number that is below the United Nations’ requirement for the sustainable development of a country. This may be due to the declining interest of the students in pursuing careers in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, as well as the increasing shortage of STEM teachers in the country, problems that are common to many countries.

These are the challenges that Ramon Magsaysay awardees Dr. Chris Bernido and Dr. Marivic Carpio-Bernido hoped to address with the Learning Physics as One Nation (LPON) Project.

“With a low percentage of teachers deemed qualified to teach Physics, LPON was designed primarily to address the shortage of qualified Physics teachers in the country,” said the Bernido couple, which instituted the Central Visayan Institute Foundation Dynamic Learning Program (CVIF-DLP).

Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) and PLDT-Smart Foundation, which have been helping the Bernidos propagate this non-traditional yet effective learning framework, held a series of LPON trainings in Dipolog City, Pangasinan and Metro Manila, participated in by 141 attendees representing 108 private and public schools.

“With LPON, we help the government address this perennial problem on the lack of qualified Physics teachers by capturing on video physicists-educators and bringing these experts right in their classrooms,” said Ramon Isberto, head of Smart Public Affairs Group.

“By making Physics more engaging and less intimidating, we hope to inspire young people to pursue a career in the STEM discipline and help propel our country to further growth through innovations,” added Isberto.

LPON is a theoretical framework and implementation strategy where students do activities independently 80 percent of the time using the hands-on minds-on maxim. The remaining 20 percent is spent on watching video lectures.

The LPON project was initially implemented in 34 private schools in 2008 but has since been expanded to over 200 private and public schools in 2011.