Online S&T scholars’ orientation in Western Visayas kicks off

The online scholarship orientation for the successful scholarship qualifiers of the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) in Western Visayas started last May 26 with the provinces of Aklan and Guimaras. A total of 28 scholars from the two provinces attended the orientation and were joined by their parents.

The online briefing will stretch until June 4, 2020 to cater to scholars from the provinces of Antique, Capiz, Iloilo and Negros Occidental. The participants were advised to coordinate with the Provincial S&T Centers (PSTCs) in their area as to the signing of their scholarship contract.

The new scholars may pursue a four- or five-year college degree in priority science and technology fields. As benefits, both RA 7687 and Merit scholars will receive tuition subsidy and other school fees/Semester for those enrolled in private schools amounting to Php20,000, monthly stipend of Php7,000, Php10,000 for book allowance per academic year and a PE/MS uniform allowance of Php1,000 for 1st Semester of the first academic year.

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 or with FAAP Level III accreditation, wherein they can take up priority science and technology courses. Seven (7) additional accredited S&T courses were added – BS Agribusiness Management and Entrepreneurship, BS Clothing Technology, BS Speech Pathology, BS Architecture, BS in Technology and Livelihood Education with Specialization in Information and Communications Technology, BS Agribusiness, and BS Animal Husbandry.

The online scholarship orientation was set to protect the DOST VI employees’ safety and well-being and its clients as well. DOST VI maximize the use of digital technologies for communication to minimize travel and practice social distancing.

DOST VI records a total of 525 new science and technology scholars for Region VI. The DOST-SEI Undergraduate Scholarship Program is the Department’s response to its mandate of accelerating the pace of knowledge-driven development in accordance with the S&T human resource growth potential in the country. (ssalazar/dost6)