CLOSE to a thousand current third year college students have another reason to celebrate the holidays.
For they passed the 2018 Junior Level Science Scholarship (JLSS) examination.
The Science Education Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-SEI) administered the JLSS examination nationwide on October 20.
DOST-SEI Director Josette Biyo. (Image: SEI)
A total of 946 regular third year college students are the qualifiers in this year’s JLSS; they are enrolled in various science and technology (S&T) courses.
SEI is one of the 18 attached agencies of the DOST and is implementing the different S&T scholarship programs of the government.
The qualifiers will be able to enjoy their scholarship benefits starting with the first semester of the academic year 2018-2019.
SEI said the JLSS is a scholarship program falling under Republic Act (R.A.) No. 2067, also known as the Merit Scholarship Program, R. A. No. 7687 or the “S&T Scholarship Act of 1994,” and R.A. No. 10612 or the “Fast-Tracked S&T Scholarship Act of 2013.”
Under the program those who qualified will receive tuition subsidy, monthly stipend, book allowance, among others, for two to three years under the scholarship. Earlier this year, DOST-SEI announced the improved scholarship benefit rates for its scholars.
The R.A. 2067 and R. A. 7687 are implemented in support of the overall goal of increasing the number of scientists and engineers that will help boost knowledge creation and economic productivity in the country.
On the other hand, R.A. 10612 supports the implementation of the K to 12 law by developing a pool of scholar-graduates who can competently teach science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in the secondary education, particularly in senior high school.
Scholars under the RA 10612 are expected to teach STEM, ideally in their respective home regions, as their return-service. Meanwhile, graduates of the RA 7687 and RA 2067 Programs are required to work along their fields of specialization in the country for a period equivalent to the length of years they benefited from the scholarship program.
DOST-SEI Director Josette Biyo impressed upon the important role of the scholarship programs to the nation’s progress.
“All of these programs are aimed at giving us a better chance to achieve national development. We need scientists, engineers, researchers, innovators, and educators that will push us to greater heights and start a positive momentum towards inclusive growth,” said Biyo.
She added that SEI believes that with the highest financial support in its scholarship programs’ history, it will be able to invite the best students to really pursue careers in the sciences.
Here’s the list of the 946 who passed the JLSS examination:
Click to access 2018_jlssqualifiers.pdf
“Through the DOST-SEI Scholarship Programs, we expect our scholars to be responsible citizens who can serve as beacons to the Filipino Youth who have the potential to join them in using S&T as a way to make lives of the Filipino people better,” Biyo added.
Here’s what a JLSS scholar gets:
For a regular academic year, in terms of tuition and other school fees: Php40,000.00 per year; book allowance, Php10,000 per year; MS/PE uniform (1st Semester of First Year only, Php1,000; group health and accident insurance, premium; transportation allowance for those studying outside of home province, one economy-class round-trip fare; monthly living allowance, Php7,000 a month; graduation clothing allowance, P1,000; summer allowance if required in the curriculum, tuition and other school fees, Php1,500; book allowance, Php500 (Official Receipt required); monthly living allowance, P7,000 a month for two months.
The objective of the JLSS Program is to provide scholarships that will finance talented and deserving students’ third year in college who are enrolled in degree programs covering the areas of science and technology; and ensure a steady, adequate supply of qualified S&T human resources able to help guide the country in its march towards national progress. (SEI/EKU)