April 27, 2024

A total of 9,788 graduating senior high school students qualified in the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (SEI) Scholarship Program.

Out of the total number of passers, 5,917 qualified as scholars under the Republic Act 7687 Scholarship Program, which provides for academically talented students who belong to economically disadvantaged families; while 3,871 qualified under the SEI Merit Scholarship Program.

The 2020 SEI undergraduate scholarship examination, which was held on Oct. 20, 2019 in 347 test centers nationwide, hit a record-breaking 102,526 examinees.

“This scholarship program is certainly a package of opportunities as qualifiers, especially those who are underprivileged, will get to continue their education in leading universities and colleges. We are hopeful that they – four or five years from now – will undertake productive efforts in the areas of research and development, industry and innovation, and S&T services,” SEI Director Josette T. Biyo said.

The new scholars will receive a monthly stipend at P7,000, tuition subsidy up to P40,000 per academic year for those who are enrolled in private universities and colleges; book allowance; one-time MS/PE clothing allowance; one economy-class roundtrip airfare per year for those studying outside of their home province; outright thesis allowance; and group accident insurance. 

Scholarship qualifiers must pursue a Bachelor of Science degree program in any of the priority fields of study at a state university or college or any private higher education institution that is recognized by the Commission on Higher Education as Center of Excellence or Center of Development or with F Federation of Accrediting Agencies Level 3 accreditation for the BS program that he/she intend to enroll in.

Priority programs in the scholarship include, basic sciences, engineering, other applied sciences, and math.

The list of priority S&T programs can be found on the SEI website: www.sei.dost.gov.ph. 

Scholars should be poor, talented and deserving, belongs to a family whose socio-economic status does not exceed the set values of certain indicators as approved by the Advisory Committee on S&T Scholarships.

SEI scholars are required to render service in the country along their fields of specialization after graduation for a period equivalent to the number of years they enjoyed the scholarship as a return service.

“Through the different scholarship programs of SEI, we are helping infuse a new blood of talent and skills into our workforce as well as supply a fresh breed of responsible citizens who use science in their daily lives. We need young people to serve as ambassadors of science as the issues we face in terms of natural disasters, health pandemics, and others rely on sound scientific information to make better decisions for the public good,” Biyo added. – Press release