LEGAZPI CITY — The Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) office in Region 5 (Bicol) is encouraging promising students to avail of scholarships being offered at the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) – Bicol Campus, which attained a 100-percent passing rate in the recently held University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT).
DOST regional information officer Dr. Pelita Lucena, in an interview on Monday, said that based on records, among the campuses of PSHS in the country, only two got a 100-percent passing rate in the recent UPCAT and these are in Bicol and Central Luzon.
“We are very happy. It was an achievement for us. That’s why we (DOST) continue to encourage students to avail of scholarships and be part of ‘Pisay’,” Lucena said.
Interested students must take the National Competitive Examination (NCE), a scholastic aptitude test designed to measure scientific and quantitive abilities, abstract reasoning, and verbal aptitude. It will be administered on October 20.
Application for the 2018 DOST-PSHS National Competitive examination is now open for Grade 6 pupils and application forms can be downloaded from the PSHS website and are available at the DOST regional office and nearest Provincial Science and Technology Center.
Lucena explained that interested graduating elementary pupils must have a final grade of 85 percent or higher in Science and Mathematics, as evidenced in their report card; Filipino citizens with no pending or approved application as immigrant to any foreign country; born on or after Aug. 1, 2004; at least satisfactory rating (or equivalent) for character rating in the report card; not taken the PSHS NCE previously and preferably, in good health and fit to undergo rigorous academic program.
“Applicants with complete requirement will receive the examination permit through mail direct to them or to the school principal for distribution to the applicants,” she said.
Lucena said the deadline for the submission of application forms will be on August 31.
Successful examinees who are accepted as PSHS students are entitled to scholarship privileges, including free tuition; textbooks; monthly stipend; uniform; transportation and living allowances for low-income groups; and dormitory accommodation (if applicable).
Meanwhile, the DOST also offers Science and Technology (S&T) Undergraduate scholarships for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
College S&T student-scholars can enjoy scholarship privileges; tuition and school fees (PHP40,000/academic year); book allowance (PHP10,000/year); MS/PE uniform, first semester of first year only (PHP1,000); group insurance (premium); monthly allowance (PHP7,000/month); summer allowance if required with tuition and other school fee (PHP1,500), book allowance (PHP500/to submit OR), monthly allowance (two months), and graduation clothing allowance (PHP1,000).
“We encourage qualified Senior High School students to apply for S&T scholarship, pursue S&T careers and be part of the future competent human resource in the country,” Lucena said. (Connie Calipay/PNA)
