More than 5,000 high school graduates have qualified for the much-coveted 2015-2016 DOST-SEI Scholarships Exam of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) after passing the science scholarship examination. The DOST-Science Education Institute (SEI) on Sunday, March 8, 2015 said there were 5,303 successful examinees. The figure represents an increase of 33 percent compared to the number of passers last year. (See LIST OF PASSERS here.)
Out of the total number of passers, 4,475 qualified as scholars under the RA 7687 Scholarship Program, scholarships for gifted students who belong to economically disadvantaged families; while 828 passed under the DOST-SEI Merit Scholarship Program.
Municipalities and congressional districts covered by the DOST-SEI Scholarship Program has also increased from 1,443 last year to 1,568 this year with the inclusion of 125 municipalities having DOST scholars for the first time, the DOST-Science Education Institute said.
Moreover, incoming DOST-SEI scholars, as well as those who are ongoing, are set to receive bigger stipends and other allowances starting school year 2015-2016. All DOST-SEI scholars will receive P6,000 monthly stipend (from P5,000) under the Physics/Applied Physics, Geology, Mining Engineering, Agriculture, and Fisheries courses, while under the other DOST-SEI priority courses will receive P5,000 monthly stipend (from P4,000); book allowance of P10,000 per academic year (from P5,000); tuition fee subsidy of P10,000 (from P8,000); and MS/PE clothing allowance of P1,000 (from P500).
DOST Secretary Mario Montejo said the scholarships will certainly allow the students to pursue their dreams in their desired fields in science and mathematics in leading universities and colleges and will ultimately lead them to become key players in the country’s development once they practice their professions four or five years from now.
“DOST has always been working to boost the number of science professionals that will help us in our drive for inclusive and holistic growth,” said Montejo. “We are optimistic that these qualifiers will soon help us in creating S&T-based solutions for our many national concerns.”
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 course 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; Geological Science and 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.
With the implementation of the K-12 Curriculum, there will be a two-year hiatus in the selection of new scholars under the RA 7687 and the Merit Scholarship programs since there will be no high school graduates in 2016 and 2017. To fill this gap, DOST-SEI shall be opening more slots in its other scholarship programs such as the Fast-Tracked Science and Technology Scholarship Program under the RA 10612 and the regular Junior Level Science Scholarship Program.
Dr. Josette T. Biyo, DOST-SEI Director, said these programs will provide greater opportunity to those who would want to become a DOST scholar as they pursue a college science degree but is hard up in life.
“I believe that with our junior level scholarship grants we will be able to sustain the production of a critical mass future S&T expert at a desirable rate,” Biyo added.
DOST-SEI scholars are required to render service in the country along their fields of specialization after graduation for a period equivalent to the number of years they enjoyed the scholarship as a return service. SEI maintains its resolve that this strategy allows the country’s industries to have “the best minds” to do their services and products.
“As early as now, we call for these qualifiers to take on the challenges of using S&T in serving the Filipino people,” she said. “They have the opportunity in their hands to hasten the country’s economic growth and make life more comfortable for the Filipino people.”
2015-2016 DOST-SEI Scholarships Exam Passers
Please see the official LIST OF PASSERS via this link.
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