DOST accepting applications for science degree scholarship

CEBU, Philippines – The Science Education Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-SEI) is now accepting applicants for its Bachelor of Science degree scholarship programs for poor and talented students.

Launched in 1994, the program is in line with the government's objective to build the science and technology capacity of the country. It has already served almost 30,000 scholars from the provinces of Cebu, Siquijor, Negros and Bohol.

The scholars took up mostly courses in Chemistry, Information Technology and Computer Science.

The applicants must belong to the upper five percent of the high school graduating class and a natural-born Filipino citizen.

He or she must also be a qualifier of the 2011 S & T Scholarship examination and have not earned any unit in any undergraduate course and has not taken any DOST-SEI Science and Technology Scholarship program.

One can get application forms from the DOST regional office. Applications will be accepted until October 8.

Those who will qualify will receive P4,000-monthly allowance, P6,000-tuition and other fees per semester, P500 for books and school supplies, P2,500 as clothing al-lowance, and group health and accident insurance.

Rodel Maningo, DOST-SEI coordinator, said that students who avail of the scholarship but will not finish their course will have to pay back the benefits it received from DOST, plus 12 percent interest. (FREEMAN)