by Franklin P. Gumapon
DIPOLOG CITY, May 3
(PIA) - - Incoming scholars of the Department of Science and Technology-Science
Education Institute (DOST-SEI) from Zamboanga del Norte and its twin cities of
Dipolog and Dapitan have formally signed their scholarship contract here this
morning.
DOST-IX Assistant
Regional Director (ARD) for Administrative Services Martin Wee facilitated the
contract signing with the scholars and parents following a brief scholarship
orientation held at the Camila Hotel II in Barangay Turno this city.
Twelve of the 13
qualifiers showed up with their parents to formally their scholarship contract
with the DOST.
Among the 13
qualifiers, 11 belong to Republic Act (RA) 7687, a science and technology
scholarship for poor but deserving students while two are under DOST’s merit
scholarship.
ARD Wee explained
that the senior high school students qualified to take the RA 7687 scholarship
test are those whose gross family income not exceeding P156,600.00 per annum.
The merit
scholarship, on the other hand, is open to all regardless of one’s family
income, provided he/she belongs to the upper five percent of the graduating
class. “A son or daughter of the Philippine President, Senator or big
businessmen can apply for the merit scholarship so long as he/she gets the
highest scores in the test,” Wee said.
Wee also disclosed
that for academic year 2012-2013, more than 5,000 senior high school students
nationwide had applied for the merit scholarship but only 273 qualified.
These merit
scholars can enroll only in DOST-SEI identified network institutions such as
the University of Philippines (UP), Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute
of Technology (MSU-IIT), Adamson University, Aquinas University, Ateneo de
Davao University, Ateneo de Manila University, Batangas State University,
Bulacan State University, Cagayan State University, De La Salle University, Don
Bosco Technology College, Holy Angel University, Mapua Institute of Technology,
Mariano Marcos State University, Philippine Normal University, Rizal Technology
University, Silliman University, St. Louis University, Tarlac State University,
TUP-Manila, University of the East, University of Mindanao, UNO-Recoletos,
University of San Carlos, University of South-Eastern Philippines, University
of Sto. Tomas, University of St. La Salle, Xavier University, Wesleyan
University, Western Institute of Technology and Western Mindanao State University.
Both RA 7687 and
merit scholars should pursue courses either on basic or applied sciences.
Presently, DOST-SEI
scholars shall enjoy these privileges: tuition fee not exceeding P6,000 per
semester, book allowance of P5,000 per year, PE uniform allowance of P500.00,
transportation allowance, monthly stipend of P5,000 for those who will take up
BS Physics, Applied Physics, Physics Teaching, Geology and Mining Engineering,
and P 4,000.00 for those taking up other DOST-SEI priority courses such as
Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Statistics, Chemical Engineering, Electronics
and Communications Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Geodetic Engineering
and other courses belonging to basic and applied sciences. (FPG/PIA-Zamboanga
del Norte)