3,982 students qualify for DOST college scholarships

A gleam of light welcomes aspiring young scientists and engineers as the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute announces the 3,982 high school students who qualify to the Science Scholarship Examination, up by 10.7% from last year.

From the total number of the 2014 passers, 3,473 who belong to economically disadvantaged families qualified under the RA 7687 Scholarship grants, while 509 students who topped the examination qualified under the DOST-SEI Merit Scholarship Program.

Qualifiers who avail of any of the S&T undergraduate scholarships may pursue a four- or five-year college degree in priority science and technology fields. As benefits, RA 7687 scholars will receive tuition subsidy, monthly stipend, book allowance and many more. Scholars under the Merit scholarship program will likewise receive the same benefits except for the pro-rated monthly stipend based on the family’s socio-economic status.

DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo 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, wherein 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 Materials Science and Engineering; Chemistry Engineering; Chemistry; Civil Engineering; Computer Engineering; Computer Science; Electrical Engineering; Electronics and Communications Engineering; Environmental Science; Fisheries; Food Technology; Forestry; Geology; Geodetic Engineering; Industrial Engineering; Information Technology; Manufacturing Engineering; Materials 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/Mathematics Teaching and Statistics.

Meanwhile, 500 second year college students who are enrolled in DOST-SEI identified institutions under its priority courses have qualified for the S&T Scholarships for Sophomore College Students. Of this number, 271 are grouped under the RA 7687 scholarship program and 229 under the Merit scholarship. Qualifiers will get to avail of and enjoy the scholarship privileges effective the Second Semester of AY 2013-2014.

Meanwhile, SEI’s Supervising Undersecretary, Prof. Fortunato T. De La Peña said he is hopeful that the increased number of passers would ultimately translate to an increased number of graduates that will pursue S&T careers in the future.

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

In addition, Sec. Montejo is pleased to announce the availability of scholarship slots for the 2015 S&T Undergraduate Scholarships. Application forms can be obtained at SEI or can be downloaded at its website, www.sei.dost.gov.ph and www.science-scholarships.ph. Deadline for filing of application and requirements is on August 22, 2014. The nationwide scholarship examination is on September 21, 2014.

The DOST-SEI Undergraduate Scholarship Program is the Department’s response to its mandate of accelerating the pace of knowledge-driven development in accordance with the S&T human resource growth potential in the country.

This is a press release from the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute.