Half of Pisay passers unable to enroll due to limited slots

Around half of qualified students were “turned away” by the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) system due to limited slots, according to a report by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II).

The report, released Tuesday, revealed that out of 49,481 applicants across 16 PSHS campuses from 2022 to 2025, 11,351 students (23%) qualified for enrollment. 

However, only about half of these qualifiers — 5,544 students — could secure a slot in the PSHS system.

Each PSHS regional campus is limited to 90 to 120 slots, except for the Main Campus in the National Capital Region (NCR), which offers 240 slots.

“Gaining admission into PSHS is competitive, with limited slots for a sizable pool of applicants," EDCOM II stated. “[This] leaves other qualified applicants with no opportunity to enter the PSHS.”

For instance, the PSHS Main Campus in Metro Manila had 3,234 qualified applicants, but only 719 were enrolled. Similarly, in Calabarzon, 786 applicants passed, but only 360 were accommodated.

The study also noted disparities in qualification rates, with private school students achieving a 43% qualification rate compared to just 17% for public school students in the PSHS admission test.

To address these issues, EDCOM II recommended reviewing and expanding the Department of Education’s policies on special science high schools and special curricular programs. This includes increasing slot allocations and providing additional resources such as teacher training, laboratories, and learning materials.

The PSHS, under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), provides free scholarships for secondary education with a focus on science and technology subjects. — DVM, GMA Integrated News