Correlation of earth science curriculum and student cognitive level in earth science at the secondary level in the Philippines and Japan

This study correlates the secondary school science curriculum and the student cognitive level in Earth Science in the Philippines and Japan. In particular, it aims to help determine the cognitive level of students in Earth Science at the secondary level in two countries and seeks to compare the implementation of the different curricula in different types of secondary schools of a same area in the Philippines. A descriptive research design in nature, a questionnaire in Earth Science was administered to 240 8th graders exposed to different science curricula in Quezon City (Metro Manila), Philippines and to 191 8th graders in Chiba (Tokyo) and Kumamoto (semi-rural Southern Kyushu) prefectures in Japan. Findings show that there is a correlation between the science curriculum and the cognitive level in Earth Science of secondary school students in both countries and a significant difference in the cognitive level in Earth Science of Filipino students from different types of secondary schools. Further analyses of the results reveal the strengths and weaknesses of the Science curricula implemented in both countries and provide the possible areas for curriculum improvement.