Science laboratory facility, equipment and apparatus should be designed to increase the comfort, convenience and utility for the pupil's educational growth. Most of these should be developed to facilitate learning experience and performance thereby achieving success in the implementation of curriculum, which is the K-12 curriculum.
This study aimed to assess the status of science laboratory in Caloocan North I District: 1.) What is the DepEd prescribed guidelines for a standard laboratory that is compliant to the K-12 curriculum in terms of 1.1)facility1.2) equipment 1.3)apparatus? 2.) What is the status of the science laboratory at Caloocan North I District in terms of the above-mentioned variables? 3.) What are the problems identified based on the assessment of Science Laboratory in Caloocan North I? 4.) What recommendations may be proposed based on the findings?
This study was descriptive method in nature that adopted the survey design that determined the status of science laboratory in Caloocan North I District.
The instrument used in the study served as basis for finding the status of science laboratory in Caloocan North I District. The schools were Caloocan North Elementary School, Camarin D Elementary School, Camarin D Unit II Elementary School, Camarin Main Elementary School, Amparo Elementary School, Horacio Dela Costa Elementary School, Cielito Zamora Elementary School, Urduja Elementary School and Congress Elementary School. A total of 144 science teachers served as the respondents of the study.
The list of facilities prescribed by the facility manual and the prescribed science equipment and apparatus by the Department of Education was used as reference in the formulation of the questionnaire used in the study. It was designed to gather information from the respondents regarding the prevailing conditions of the facilities, equipment and apparatus in the science laboratory.
Data that were obtained and provided by the samples from the response to questionnaires were analysed, tabulated, evaluated and interpreted using the most appropriate statistical treatment.
The findings of the study were as follows: 1. The DepEd prescribed guidelines for a standard laboratory in terms of: 1.1 Facility, the science laboratory should be designed as wide as space (7 x 18m) to allow mobility inside the room; there should be at least two (2) entry/exit doors for easy access and egress where the doors should be swing out to facilitate exit of students in case of emergency; the science laboratory should have provisions for laboratory counter, control room and storage room; chemical solutions should be located or kept on the base cabinets of the storage/ stockroom wherein the storage room and control room should be equipped with the built-in cabinet not higher than 1.90 in which the bolt storage cabinet to the wall and install strong latches so the doors will remain closed as contents of the cabinets can shift during an earthquake, stock/storage room should be provided with security grills on the windows to ensure safekeeping of the chemicals and other apparatus of the science laboratory; science laboratory buildings should provide with neutralization tank/drain pit for proper disposal of chemical waste, the working tables inside the science laboratory should be fixed on the floor. It should be made of reinforced concrete with mosaic tiles topping and should be acid resistant that each working table should be provided with a laboratory sink and faucet, waste pipes should be also acid resistant; laboratory working areas should be well lighted and have bilateral fenestration for ventilation and fume extraction; the science laboratory should have 24-hour clean water supply, every science laboratory should have a notice / reminder posted on conspicuous side of the room for student's awareness and shall be provided with a first aid kit; in a single storey the building be located far from academic classrooms; and in case of multi-storey building, the science laboratory should be located on the highest floor possible for proper ventilation. 1.2 Equipment, the following science equipment are DepEd prescribed compliant to the K to 12 Curriculum: Wire gauze, Tripod, Test tube holder. Test tube 16mmx250mm long. Test rack, Pair of magnet, Human torso model, Long nose plier, Hand magnifying lens, Relief globe, Alcohol thermometer 20°C to 110°C, Stirring rod 6mmx 250mm long. Alcohol lamp/burner, 150 ml. capacity, Mortar and pestle, porcelain, 150 ml, Funnel, plastic, Plastic ruler 12 inches, Beaker 250 ml. borosilicate, Classroom thermometer, Beral pipette, 5ml, Erlenmeyer flask, Meter stick, Microscopic slides, Graduated cylinder, 250ml., plastic, Prism, Dropper, Tuning Fork, Tongs, Glass Slides, and Petri dish. 1.3 Apparatus, Heat conduction apparatus(with 5 metals), Simple anemometer, Magnetic compass, Aneroid barometer, wall-mount, Electricity and Magnetism Kit, Double pan balance, 500 grams capacity, Flashlight with incandescent bulb, Microscope, Triple Beam Balance and Weighing. 2. Status of Science laboratory in Caloocan North I District in terms of: 2.1 Facility, the science laboratory facilities were rated "not compliant". 2.2. Equipment, the science laboratory equipment was rated "fairly available" 2.3. Apparatus the science laboratory apparatus were rated "fairly functional". 3. The problems encountered by the teacher respondents were ranked from 1 being the top most problem and 5 as the least. In the science laboratory facilities the following were the problems identified: Science Laboratory used as academic classroom (rank 1), there is no 24-hour water supply (rank 2). there is no complete lighting facility(rank 3), not well ventilated(rank 4) and the doors, storage room, cabinet, working table and tiling are not compliant to the Facility Manual (rank 5). In the science laboratory equipment, the problems encountered were the following: the laboratory equipment are not complete (rank 1), there is no enough science equipment for large population of pupils(rank 2), the equipment are available but not in good condition(rank 3), and the equipment are already damaged (rank 4). And in the science laboratory apparatus. The laboratory apparatus are available but not functional(rank 1), the apparatus is not enough for a large population of pupils(rank 2), the laboratory apparatus are not complete (rank 3), the laboratory apparatus has missing parts/set (rank 4) and lastly the apparatus are already broken or damaged (rank 5). 4. The following recommendations were proposed and ranked by the teacher respondents based on the findings of the assessment of status of science laboratory facility, equipment and apparatus are as follows: Development of budget roposal that should be submitted to school principal and division office (rank 1); Science supervisors, coordinators, and principals should conduct trainings on the instructional materials and use of indigenous materials (rank 2): Science coordinator and teachers should conduct workshop on proper use of facility, equipment and apparatus( rank 3); Project proposal should be given to prospective donors of science facilities, equipment and apparatus(rank 4) and Science coordinators should conduct trainings and workshops on improvisation of science laboratory facility, equipment and
apparatus (rank 5).
Based on the findings of the study and conclusions drawn, the following recommendations were hereby proposed: 1.) The DepEd should monitor the construction of science laboratory if it is compliant to the laboratory facility manual. 2.) The government together with DepEd should allocate enough budget for science laboratory facilities, equipment and apparatus. 3.)The Division Office should monitor the needs of science program relative to facilities, equipment and apparatus. 4.)The school management should request budget for science needs from the Special Education Fund. 5.) The school principal should scout prospective donors of science laboratory equipment and apparatus. 6.)The teachers should be provided with trainings and workshops on improvisation of science equipment, apparatus for use in laboratory activities. And 7.) The future researchers should conduct studies.