UNPACKING DENGUE VIRUS KNOWLEDGE: A LOOK AT PRE-SERVICE AND IN-SERVICE TEACHERS' UNDERSTANDING AND MISCONCEPTIONS

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the understanding and prevalent misconceptions regarding the Dengue virus among pre-service teachers and educators. Employing a descriptive research methodology, the study engaged 270 pre-service teacher students and 41 educators from the College of Education at Nueva Ecija University (NEUST) during the first semester of the 2018-2019 academic year.

The results revealed that educators from the College of Education displayed limited awareness of the Dengue virus. Furthermore, the level of awareness regarding common fallacies associated with Dengue among College of Education educators indicated an extensive understanding of these misconceptions. Conversely, pre-service teachers demonstrated only moderate awareness of Dengue and its associated misconceptions.

Based on these findings, the researcher recommends enhancing the awareness levels of both educators and pre-service teachers through information dissemination initiatives such as seminars and forums focusing on Dengue virus. Additionally, integrating Dengue awareness into their educational curriculum is advised.