DOST fetes 43 Bicolano science scholars

The Department of Science and Technology's Science Education Institute feted 43 scholar-graduates who earned their degrees with honors and did well in their licensure examinations.

SEI Director Dr. Josette Biyo congratulated the honorees at the 2014 Southern Luzon Cluster Science and Technology Fair in Legaspi City in Albay.

“We lag behind our neighboring countries in terms of S&T manpower, in the midst on the rapid increase in our human population,” she said, adding the country "needs more engineers, scientists, researchers, biologists, chemists, and other S & T manpower to drive economic development.”

Biyo added DOST scholars can give concrete contributions to achieving national development goals.

Also, she urged the honorees and the students present in the Cluster Fair to venture into S&T, whether in the industry, academe, or government.

“While salaries in the country may not be as high as those in other countries, just remember the service that you will bring to the Filipino people. Also consider the contribution that you can give to the country by producing quality researches and developing efficient technologies that would make the quality of life better,” she said.

Meanwhile, new scholarship slots are available under Republic Act 10612 or the “Expanded Scholarship Act of 2013.”

SEI will provide 500 scholarship slots starting the second term of 2014, to incoming third-year college students enrolled in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) courses.

Another 1,000 new slots will be provided in 2015, Biyo said.

Under this program, scholars will be required to teach for two to three years in high school after graduation.
 
On the other hand, Biyo said another 1,000 slots will be provided in 2015, for a total of 4,500 available slots for the undergraduate scholarship.

Biyo also announced the expansion of SEI’s graduate scholarship program, increasing the number of consortium universities under the Accelerated Science and Technology Human Resource Development Program-Science Education Consortium (ASTHRDP-SEC) from four to 10 universities. — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News