The promise of S&T

Recently, U.S. researchers were able to coax hearts from dead rats to beat again by injecting them with heart cells from newborn rats, feeding them a nutrient-rich solution and allowing them grow in the lab. Dr. Doris Taylor of the University of Minnesota Center for Cardiovascular Repair said the discovery may one day lead to customized organ transplants for people through stem cells, which are the body's master cells.

This yet another great achievement for science has the potential to change the way people live in the near future. As early as the 80s, developed countries have reached new frontiers in the health sciences, along with other fields of science and technology such as neurotechnology, biotech, nanotech and ICT. In the process, these countries created wealth and better lives for their people.

Sadly, science, technology and innovation (STI) in the Philippines today does not stand on solid ground. Our science and technology system remains poor, particularly our education and R&D.

The country suffers a low number of S&T graduates, with engineers and scientists constituting 13% and IT 9.5% of all college graduates, greatly outnumbered by business, medicine and nursing graduates.

Primary and secondary level students are underperforming. The latest National Achievement Test showed that for every 10 items, a typical grade six student can correctly answer about 5 items; a fourth year HS student, 4 items.

This is hardly surprising, with the declining quality and number of teachers in the country. There are more non-majors teaching science subjects than teachers with science degrees. For instance, 90% of physics teachers are not physics majors; 80% for chemistry teachers.

We live today in a knowledge-based economy that thrives on innovation. STI is the key to our development, but it requires first and foremost an effort to improve our science education.

We need to invest heavily in education and make serious reforms in science and math education, starting from basic to secondary up to higher levels of education. That is still the best way we can develop a talented and skilled pool of human resources, the most crucial ingredient in improving our country's S&T.