FOREWORD

OVERVIEW ABOUT NSTIC

HIGHLIGHTS OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS

    SCIENCE EQUIPMENT DEVELOPMENT 

      PROGRAM

    MASS PRODUCTION OF 

        NSTIC-DEVELOPED SCIENCE  

        EQUIPMENT

    TEACHERS TRAININGS

    REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF 

       SCIENCE EQUIPMENT

    DEVELOPMENT OF NSTIC WEBSITE

    STAFF DEVELOPMENT

    MANCOM-MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

SERVICES OFFERED

FINANCIAL REPORT

FOREWORD

This Annual Report is an accounting of the effort of the National Science Teaching Instrumentation Center (NSTIC) in implementing its programs and projects in CY 2004. These programs and projects were carried out in line with the ten point agenda of Her Excellency Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the twelve point program of the Department of Education, the Vision and Mission of NSTIC and the Executive Order No. 112 which spells out the mandate of NSTIC.

CY 2004 was considered a challenging one for NSTIC. In that year, the Secondary Education Development Improvement Project (SEDIP) utilized the expertise and services of its personnel as trainers in the Training on the Use, Care and Improvisation of Science Equipment. 

This undertaking partly affected the work of the Center, but the positive working attitude of its personnel and their dedication to their jobs provided the needed impetus to tackle an important task.

NSTIC shall continue to undertake researches and prototype development so that the schools can be assured of affordable quality science instructional equipment, materials and services. At the same time, it shall enhance its science equipment repair and maintenance program; promote the use of cheaper improvised or Do-It-Yourself science equipment as an alternative to the standard ones; and develop a strategy that will improve the mass production of standard science equipment.  

A. FACTS ABOUT NSTIC

    The National Science Teaching Instrumentation Center was mandated by Executive Order No. 112 to carry out the following objectives:

1. To develop prototypes of science teaching equipment and materials using indigenous or locally available materials and technology and adapted to the approved curriculum;
2. To develop user’s manuals and experiment modules for science teaching equipment;
3. To develop and prescribe standards for science teaching equipment and materials in the country;
4. To assist the private sector in developing its capability to mass- produce the science equipment prototypes developed by the Center;
5. To develop and provide training programs for science teachers on the effective teaching of science using the instructional equipment and materials developed by the Center as well as those that may be developed by the teachers themselves;
6. To undertake quality control of science equipment and materials being provided to the public schools; and,
7. To develop and implement a system of repair and maintenance of science equipment provided to the public schools.  

        The Center is organized into four operating divisions, namely: Research and Development, Production, Administrative, and Executive divisions. It is managed by an Executive Director, assisted by the Technical Director; while the division chiefs supervise their respective divisions. The Center has a total staff complement of thirty-three personnel, including the two Directors.

Rey Quillosa,SRS2 demonstrates to students

the functionality of the Constant Level Apparatus

(photos courtesy of JICA Volunteers)

The Center Trains science teachers on how to maintain damaged microscopes and balances.

 Supporting the operation of the Center is a complete administrative structure headed by an Administrative Officer.

        To address the need of fully equipping the schools’ laboratories, NSTIC will develop affordable quality science instructional equipment in the four subject areas of science: Science I-General Science, Science II-Biology, Science III-Chemistry, and Science IV-Physics. There are two types of science instructional equipment, i.e. the standard science equipment and the improvised or Do-It-Yourself (DIY) science equipment. The standard equipment has high precision, used for quantitative experiments, commonly available in the schools, and fabricated in a manufacturing plant.  On the other hand, the DIY science equipment is low-cost type and can be manufactured by the teachers themselves. The DIY is an alternative to some of the standard science equipment and can be easily constructed since it is simple, although not comparable to the precision, quality and rigidity of the standard ones; hence, it is recommended to be used for qualitative experimentation. The DIY is one of the solutions to the very low availability of science equipment in schools.

    Four types of standard science equipment have been developed by the Center and are considered ready for mass production. These are:

1. SCIKIT A9597 and SCIKIT A0105- Basic Science Equipment that can be used in four subject areas
2. SCIKIT 4B003 and SCIKIT 4B005 – Physics-Mechanics
3. SCIKIT 4C04- Physics-Fluids
4. SCIKIT 4D04- Physics-Heat

The first two mentioned above have been mass-produced by private manufacturers while the funding for the mass production for the last two types will still have to be requested.

1. To enhance the Center’s science equipment repair and maintenance program in CY 2005 in anticipation of the expected large volume of repair activities due to the increased number of science equipment provided to the schools, particularly those distributed under SEDIP, JICA, PASMEP, and other projects
2. To promote the use of low-cost improvised science equipment through the conduct of more training-workshops on the construction of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) science equipment in all regions nationwide.
3. To develop strategies that will improve the sourcing of funds for the mass production of science equipment such as tapping the financial resources of the Regional and Division Offices, the Local School Boards and the Countrywide Development Fund (CDF) of Congressmen and Senators.
4. In collaboration with DepED-BAC, to campaign for the increase in the number of private and public manufacturers who are interested to undertake the mass production of the science equipment developed by NSTIC

 C. ISSUES AND CONCERNS

The major issues and concerns of the Center during the year in review are the following:

Sec. Florencio Abad views a demo-experiment on the Cart and Rail System using computer-aided experimentation (CAD) software and hardware; one of the set-ups distributed to the Regional and Provincial Science High Schools

Gerard Baron, SRS2, explains to students how to derive the value of “g”  using the Free Fall Apparatus 

1. NSTIC Operation

Hiring of one (1) Science Research Technician IV (SRT IV) to fill up a vacant position due to the death of one personnel who operated the Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Milling Machine (CNC), a very important production equipment for normal operations. The filing of positions was suspended with the implementation of Administrative Order No. 103 “Directing the Continued Adoption of Austerity Measures in the Government”.

2. Mass Production Of Science Equipment

The science equipment developed by the Center should be mass- produced and delivered to the schools to be utilized by the science teachers and students for the improvement of the quality of science teaching. But this process is hampered by the following factors:

-The lack of regular budget in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the mass production and delivery of science equipment developed by NSTIC

-Inadequacy of the NSTIC-qualified and DepED-BAC-accredited private mass producer for science equipment in our country

II. HIGHLIGHTS OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS: DELIVERY OF QUALITY BASIC EDUCATION  

The programs and projects that contributed towards the delivery of quality basic education were as follows:  

A. SCIENCE EQUIPMENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM  

   1. Standard Science Equipment Prototyping

A total of thirty six (36) different types of science equipment for the four subject areas of science were calendared for CY 2004. Of these, seven (7) items were completed; nineteen (19) were under process, four (4) were not acted upon due to the involvement of NSTIC in the SEDIP Training Program; four (4) are for purchase; one (1) item-Capillary Plates will be converted to DIY status in CY 2005; and one (1) item-Pinhole Camera was cancelled due to duplication. Of the nineteen (19) items under process, nine (9) are ready for research-technical evaluation in CY 2005.

     2. Improvised or Do-It-Yourself (DIY) 

         Science Equipment

This covers four subject areas in science, and the status is as follows: seventeen (17) items were scheduled for prototyping; three (3) items were completed; nine (9) items were under process; and five (5) items were not acted due to the participation of NSTIC as trainer in the SEDIP Training Program.

    3.  Development of Instructional Materials

One (1) volume each of the User’s Manual, Experiment Modules, Teacher’s Manual and Student Worksheet, all second editions for Physics-Mechanics Science Equipment Batch “B” – SCIKIT 4B003 were completed. The original copy was turned over to the science equipment manufacturer for printing, which is part of the science equipment package that will be distributed to the recipient schools.  

       4.  Development of DIY Construction

            Manual

One volume each for the four subject areas were still in process.  

A student tries his hands on Electrical Conductivity

Apparatus, a DIY science set-up developed by NSTIC.

Shown above are two samples

(standbase and multiclamp) taken from Scikit A0105.

Shown above are two samples

(Dynamic cart, motorized cart) taken from Scikit 4B003

The Free Fall Apparatus is one of the components of Scikit 4B003 that is undergoing mass production.

Engr. Leo Navarro, SRT IV, conducted quality control  inspection on the Cart and Rail System 

at TMM.

Engr. Ruben Zaragoza , (standing, back facing camera), supervises the teachers as they construct DIY set-ups during one of the training-workshops.

B. MASS PRODUCTION OF NSTIC-DEVELOPED SCIENCE EQUIPMENT

     1.      Management and Monitoring of    

        On-going Projects Such As:  

        a.  Mass production of SCIKITA0105  

               Basic Science Equipment, and 

               SCIKIT  4B0003   Batch “B” 

               Physics-Mechanics  Science  Equipment.

          b. Mass purchase of assorted sets of

                Laboratory Glassware as components of

                SCIKIT A0105, and

        c.  Coordination with the Mindanao

                Polytechnic State College (MPSC).  

All scheduled meetings for the second semester were conducted.

     2.      Technology Transfer  

           a.  Conducted technology transfer to the      

                private manufacturer which was 

                contracted to mass-produce the science 

                equipment developed by NSTIC.       

         b.  Conducted technology transfer to

                    MPSC  

    3.      Production of SCIKIT A01004

             Scheduled and completed the production of one (1) set of SCIKIT A01004- Basic Science Equipment at NSTIC. This set will be given to a non-recipient school that made urgent request.

4.      Quality Control Inspection

Scheduled to undertake quality control inspection of SCIKIT 4B005- Physics-Mechanics Science Equipment at Trojan Manufacturing and Marketing, Inc. (TMMI), the company that was contracted by DepEd to mass produce the NSTIC-developed science equipment. The final QC pre-delivery inspection was not realized due to the failure of TMMI to mass produce all the sets in accordance with the contract schedule.

 C. TRAININGS

         1.      Teacher Training

 Trained fifty-nine(59)  science teachers on the use of SCIKIT 4B005- Physics-Mechanics Science Equipment

         2.      Planning Conference

Conducted a planning conference for a national training with the Secondary Education Improvement Development Project (SEDIP) on the construction of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) science equipment. The national trainings were to be conducted in the localities of Butuan, Iloilo , Baguio and  Lagawe.

      3.   SEDIP

Acted as lead trainer in the training workshops conducted by SEDIP for Batch 1 on the Use, Care and Improvisation of Science Equipment and Learning Support Materials. A total of 842 science teachers from six provinces were trained. These Provinces were: Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Benguet, Iloilo , Antique, and Guimaras. The trainings transpired during the whole month of November and ten (10) NSTIC personnel were utilized as lead trainers.  

         4.      D.I.Y.

Conducted trainings on the construction of low-cost, improvised, or Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Science Equipment at Mindanao Science Centrum located in Davao City , and at Leyte State University in Tacloban City . At Mindanao Science Centrum, twelve (12) science teachers constructed the following DIY set-ups: Human Arm Model, Wire Resistance Apparatus, Water Absorption of Soils Apparatus, Boyle’s Law Model, and Wave Generator Model. At the Leyte State University , fifty-seven (57) science teachers with some students were able to construct the following DIY set-ups: Alcohol Lamp, Transpiration Apparatus, Boiling Point Apparatus, Heat Conductivity Apparatus, and Water-driven Turbine.  

          5.      Monitoring

Conducted a school-site monitoring and follow-up training on the utilization of the NSTIC-distributed science equipment to nine (9) divisions nationwide.

D. REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF SCIENCE EQUIPMENT

A total of 984 science teachers and supervisors were trained on the Repair and Maintenance or Care, Use (Content) of Science Equipment. This program included the science equipment coming from other donor-sources like PASMEP, JICA, USAID, SEDIP, SEDP, etc.

 It is a fact that most science teachers have very little experience in maintaining or repairing the science equipment in their laboratories. As a result, many of these apparatuses are prematurely damaged or have become non operational. The Center needs to strengthen this very vital program since this will help extend the life of the science equipment, thus generating savings from the very limited government financial resources.

 In order to ensure a nationwide coverage of this program, NSTIC sub-centers have to be established. NSTIC is currently establishing one (1) sub-center in the Visayas Area. Other sub-centers for repair and maintenance of science equipment are already in the drawing boards of the Center for long- term plans. The Center had also completed the editing of one Repair and Maintenance Manual.

Some procedural techniques in the repair and maintenance of microscopes and balances that are being taught to science teachers.      

(Photos courtesy of JICA Volunteers)

A home page display of the NSTIC website

Engr. Raul La Rosa tried his hands on glassblowing techniques during one of their “Lakbay Aral” exposures

Marvin Maquilas, SSRS, attempts to calibrate a thermometer during the training on liquid-in-glass volumetric calibration sponsored by DOST.

MANCOM 2004 meeting presided by Undersecretary Fe A. Hidalgo.

E. DEVELOPMENT OF NSTIC WEBSITE

             The NSTIC website development program is 90% completed and is expected to be launched in CY 2005. The Center is still in the process of choosing a website host that could cater to its needs. Through this website, NSTIC can share to other agencies some vital information related to science, and the services it can offer.  

F. STAFF DEVELOPMENT

             The majority of the presently thirty-two (32) staff members were provided opportunities to avail of various types of trainings in the fields of technical, research and latest trends in the cyber world. These trainings were aimed at enhancing the personnel’s skills and knowledge to cope with the modern technological advancements.  

G. NSTIC MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (MANCOM) MEETING

             The Management Committee held its meeting for 2004 at NSTIC Conference Room. The meeting was presided by Undersecretary Fe A. Hidalgo.

H. RELATED ACTIVITIES

             The Center accomplished other activities that were directly related to its major programs. Among others, it conducted maintenance of all NSTIC facilities to increase their availability and utilization. It also conducted a workshop to update its Vision, Mission , and Work Program for CY 2004.

III. SERVICES OFFERED

For the Center to fully maximize its services it needs the active participation of DepED officials, particularly at the Division level, in playing vital roles for the improvement of science education in their respective localities. For this reason, the Center invites and welcomes everyone in the Department to freely avail of its services. These services include, among others, the following:

	Training-workshop on the Use of Science Equipment- for Secondary Levels
Training-workshop on the Construction of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Science Equipment – for Primary and Secondary Levels
	Training-workshop on the Repair and Maintenance of Laboratory Science Equipment –for Primary and Secondary Levels

IV. FINANCIAL REPORT

The Department of Budget & Management (DBM) allotment amounted to P15.7M.  It covered the operating expenses for the research and prototype of both standard and low cost  or do-it yourself (DIY) science equipment, training of teachers on the effective use and the conduct of repair and maintenance of science equipment. It also included  the administrative and support services of the Center.

 In terms of expense class, P7.8M went to Personal Services (PS) intended to cover the salaries and other benefits of DepEd-NSTIC staff; P7.7M was allotted for Maintenance & Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) and the remaining P.09M went to capital outlay (CO) and to Financial Expenses (FE).

In view of the austerity measure issued by Malacañang per AO#103, the Center incurred obligations  in the amount of P11.06M only resulting to a net savings of P4.6M.  The total net savings was then withdrawn by DBM thru the issuance of SARO dated December 29, 2004.