3,982 high school graduates qualify as DOST scholars

MANILA, Philippines - Almost 4,000 high school graduates have qualified for the much-coveted scholarships of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) after passing the science scholarship examination. The DOST-Science Education Institute (SEI) yesterday said there were 3,982 successful examinees. The figure represents an increase of 10.7 percent compared to the number of passers last year.

From the total number of passers in the 2014 examinations, 3,473 students who belong to economically disadvantaged families qualified under the Republic Act 7687 scholarship grants, while 509 qualified under the DOST-SEI merit scholarship program.

Qualifiers who will avail of any of the science and technology undergraduate scholarships may pursue a four- or five-year college degree in priority science and technology fields. 

RA 7687 scholars will receive tuition subsidy, monthly stipend and book allowance, among others. 

Scholars under the merit scholarship program will receive the same benefits except the pro-rated monthly stipend based on the family’s socio-economic status.

Science Secretary Mario Montejo yesterday said the scholarship programs will provide the new awardees access to quality education in leading public and private institutions as it targets to substantially increase the number of scientists and engineers needed to boost economic productivity and knowledge creation in the country.

“We look at this as a sign that our young students consider, at the very least, carving a path in the sciences in terms of their studies and careers,” Montejo said.

The scholarship qualifiers can enroll in state universities and colleges and other higher education institutions recognized by the Commission on Higher Education as centers of excellence or centers of development.

They can take up priority science and technology courses such as agriculture, agricultural biotechnology, agricultural chemistry, agricultural engineering, applied mathematics, applied physics, biochemistry, biology, ceramics engineering, chemistry with applied computer system, chemistry with material science and engineering, chemistry engineering, and chemistry.

They can also enroll in courses in civil engineering, computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, electronics and communications engineering, environmental science, fisheries, food technology, forestry, geology, geodetic engineering, industrial engineering and information technology.

Other courses available are manufacturing engineering, material engineering, mathematics, mechanical engineering, metallurgical engineering, mining engineering, molecular biology and biotechnology, physics, physics with applied computer system, physics with material science and engineering, science and mathematics teaching and statistics.

Meanwhile, 500 second-year college students who are enrolled on priority courses in DOST-SEI identified institutions have qualified for the science and technology scholarships for their level. 

Of the 500 scholars, 271 are grouped under the RA 7687 scholarship program and 229 under the merit scholarship. 
Qualifiers will get to avail of the scholarship privileges effective the second semester of academic calendar 2014-2015.

Meanwhile, Undersecretary Fortunato de la Peña, who supervises the SEI, said he is hopeful that the increased number of scholarship qualifiers would ultimately translate to an increased number of graduates who will pursue science and technology studies and, consequently, careers in this field.

“The goal is to produce quality science professionals and we really hope that the same number of passers would become scientists, mathematicians and engineers who would be willing to work in the country in the near future,” he said.