DOST welcomes over 3,500 new science scholars

A total of 3,597 high school graduates have qualified as undergraduate scholars of the Department of Science and Technology's Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI).

 

The DOST said the number of qualified scholars from 1,107 towns is 7.1 percent higher than the 3,359 scholars from 975 towns who qualified last year.

 

"From the total number of the 2013 passers, 3,089 belong to economically disadvantaged families who qualified under the RA 7687 Scholarship grants, while 508 students who topped the examination qualified under the DOST-SEI Merit Scholarship Program," it said.

 

DOST Secretary Mario Montejo said they hope to increase the number of scientists and engineers to boost economic productivity and knowledge creation.

 

“We are optimistic that this new breed of future scientists and engineers will help us in creating science-and-technology-based solutions for us to achieve a ‘smarter’ Philippines,” Montejo said.

 

The DOST voiced hopes this year’s batch of qualifiers will "add to the pool of scientists and engineers who will actively lead in S&T activities, research and development (R&D) and innovation."

 

For her part, SEI Director Filma Brawner believes the country can produce more science and technology professionals through strategies in developing human resources and different scholarship programs of the Institute.

 

“I believe that through the different scholarship programs of DOST-SEI, we are slowly inching towards meeting the ideal number of scientists and engineers per million population as well as in reaching our vision of a scientifically-equipped society,” Brawner said.

 

The DOST-SEI said its Undergraduate Scholarship Program seeks to accelerate the knowledge-driven development.

 

Programs and benefits

 

Under the program, the qualified scholars may pursue a four- or five-year college degree in priority science and technology fields.

 

Benefits include tuition subsidy, monthly stipend and book allowances, while scholars under the Merit scholarship program will get similar benefits except for the pro-rated monthly stipend based on the family’s socio-economic status.

 

Qualified scholars can enrol in state universities and colleges and other Centers of Excellence or Centers of Development.

 

The priority science and technology courses they can take up include:

 

 

Scholarship slots

 

Meanwhile, Montejo announced scholarship slots for the 2014 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.

 

Prospective scholars may file their applications and submit their requirements until August 23, while the nationwide scholarship examination is on September 22. — TJD, GMA News