DOST to hold 1st int'l confab on Science, Math in August

MANILA -- For the first time, the Department of Science and Technology - Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) will hold an international conference on Science and Mathematics, to assess the state of these areas in education in the Philippines, its weaknesses and strengths in relation to international counterparts. The event, dubbed as the 1st DOST-SEI STAR (Science Teacher Academy for the Regions) International Conference, is slated on August 7, 2009 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

"This is open to teachers. We could accommodate about 300 participants. SEI will invite them," Lovely Aquino, SEI Information Officer, told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Tu esd ay.

Aside from teachers, the conference would also gather policy makers to discuss the current global state of Science and Mathematics Education.

Guest speakers include Frederick Leung from University of Hong Kong, and Chun-yen Chang from the National Taiwan Normal University.

"The conference seeks to continue Project STAR's goal of capacitating and empowering Filipino teachers by exposing them to new perspectives, technologies and innovations," SEI announced in its call for papers.

The conference also aims to share the best practices in teaching, and increase engagement in the search for solutions to problems in teaching Math and Science.

"All interested teachers may submit abstract papers," said Aquino.

Interested teachers have until May 17 to submit their abstract. Themes for paper presentation are: teaching innovations, assessment, action research and instructional materials.

The chosen abstracts will be presented during the conference.

For more information regarding the submission of abstracts, one may visit the DOST-SEI's website -w w w.sei .dost .gov.ph. ( PNA)