Performance Evaluation of Grade 9 Students in Science and its Implications for Blended Learning

Humanity faces an uphill battle to keep pace with rapid scientific and technological advancements, particularly in developing countries like the Philippines. A competitive and scientifically minded society requires access to advanced technology, knowledge, and skills to meet these needs. The quality of science education has a significant impact on these critical issues. The days of Grade 7 entirely dedicated to General Science, Biology in Grade 8, Chemistry in Grade 9, and Physics in Grade 10 are long gone. Changes were made during the implementation of the K to 12 Curriculum. Republic Act No. 10533, also known as the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, requires private and public schools to use a spiral progression approach to alleviate congestion in the country’s basic education system. Thus, students are exposed to a new secondary science curriculum, covering multiple disciplines across different grade levels. Science educators should have a firm grasp of all four areas. Along this line, the country’s science education system is constrained by various factors, including a lack of support for scientific culture, as evidenced by curriculum gaps, ineffective teaching-learning processes, teacher training shortage, a scarcity of high-quality textbooks, and insufficient instructional materials. For example, a lack of engaging textbooks and science equipment has harmed Filipino students’ ability to conduct scientific investigations and hands-on activities.