51 students get DOST scholarship grants

BATAC CITY — Forty nine third year college students of the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) were granted scholarship by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for school year 2018-2019.

In an orientation program and signing of scholarship agreement between DOST and the parents of the students last February 22 at the university covered court, Provincial Science and Technology (S&T) Director Jonathan Viernes said that this school year, only 51 passed the Junior Level Science Scholar (JLSS) examination that DOST conducted last year – 49 from MMSU and one each from Data Center and Divine Word College of Laoag (DWCL).

“The test is quite difficult considering the number of passers,” Director Viernes said, adding that of this number, 18 will be under merit scholarship, while the 33 are scholars under Republic Act 7687.
“This is one of the mandates of DOST, which is devoted to accelerating the development of S&T for socio-economic development,” Viernes said.

Meanwhile, the S&T Scholarship Program of DOST is available for both undergraduate and graduate students, especially those who meet the minimum grade requirement and those qualified by the S&T Scholarship Examination.

RA 7687, also known as the “Science and Technology Scholarship Act of 1994, provides for scholarships to talented and deserving students whose families’ socio-economic status do not exceed the set cut-off values of certain indicators. Qualifiers must pursue priority fields of study in the basic sciences, engineering, other applied sciences, and science and mathematics teaching.

Viernes said students shall receive stipends of P5,000 to P6,000 monthly depending on the degree courses they are taking. They, too, will enjoy free tuition fee and book allowance except miscellaneous expenses.

To qualify to this scholarship, first and second year college student must have an annual weighted average 2.5 or better and no failing grade in any academic subject for all semesters, including the summer term. For third, fourth and fifth year students, they must have passing grades in all academic subjects provided that they take the regular load and complete the course within its prescribed period. (mmsu)