TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Science of Technology (DOST) is eyeing at least 6,000 applicants of 2018 scholarship programs in Eastern Visayas as the country expects to see the first batch of graduates from senior high school program next year.
DOST regional information officer Ramil Uy said they had stepped up their information drive for secondary students to avail scholarship meant for poor and deserving learners.
“Our campaign had been intensified since it has been two years that we don’t have new high schools graduates,” Uy said.
The DOST accepted applications until Aug. 25 and examination will be done on Oct. 15 this year.
Qualified students will enroll in state universities and colleges and Commission on Higher Education center of excellence schools.
Those who will qualify must pursue priority fields of study in the basic sciences, engineering, other applied sciences, and science and mathematics teaching.
For next year, the DOST added new courses in the priority list – Aeronautical Engineering, Nutrition and Dietetics, Pharmacy, Packaging Engineering, Psychology, among others.
“This newly-identified priority courses are due to the transformation of our industry landscape and integration of the different requirement of our society,” Uy added.
The government through the DOST offers two scholarship programs – Republic Act No. 7687 and Merit Scholarship Program.
Republic Act No. 7687, also known as the “Science and Technology Scholarship Act of 1994”, provides a scholarship to talented and deserving students whose families’ socio-economic status does not exceed the set cut-off values of certain indicators.
The DOST Merit Scholarship Program is awarded to students with high aptitude in science and mathematics and are willing to pursue careers in the fields of science and technology. (MELVA MAE C. MENIANO)
