SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian has raised concern over the significant mismatch between the subjects taught and the college majors of high school science teachers, citing data from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II).

Based on the findings, 98 percent of Physical Sciences teachers and 80 percent of Biological Sciences teachers are teaching outside their field of specialization.

In Junior High School, the mismatch is even more pronounced, with 99 percent of Physical Sciences teachers and 47 percent of Science teachers assigned to subjects not aligned with their academic backgrounds.

In Senior High School, the issue persists, affecting 98 percent of Physical Sciences teachers, 80 percent of Biological Sciences teachers, and 71 percent of Science teachers.

Among teachers handling Grades 4 to 6, at least 98 percent reported teaching subjects not related to their college majors.

Gatchalian said the situation calls for targeted interventions, including strengthened teacher training and remediation programs to support struggling learners.

He also cited Senate Bill No. 1899, which seeks to give the Department of Education flexibility in adopting the most effective approach to teaching the basic education curriculum. The measure, which has been approved on third reading, moves away from the spiral progression approach mandated under the K to 12 Law.

“Kung matibay ang Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math curriculum sa ating bansa, then we can create and develop more advanced technologies,” Gatchalian said.