DOST cites consistent high passing marks of Aklan applicants for scholarships
Kalibo, Aklan -- Compared with Grade Six and 4th year high school students from other provinces in Western Visayas applying for scholarships offered by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Aklanon students seem to have the edge -- they always score high, passing the tests, and many get admitted as scholars.
This information was revealed by Jairus Lachica, Provincial Director of the DOST here in Aklan at a recent interview with him over IBC-DYRG in a radio program anchored by a staff of Philippine Information Agency.
Lachica said eversince the opening of the DOST scholarships, he has observed that a big number of applicants from Aklan composed of graduating elementary and high school students always emerged passers, and currently, many among them are gainfully employed.
The DOST scholarship for graduating elementary pupils who belong to the upper 5% of their class is still open until August 30. Lachica said those who will pass the test and qualify as scholars will be accepted at the Philippine Science High School and would enjoy free tuition, book and other allowances. For 4th year high school qualifiers, they will enjoy P4,500 for their tuition per semester, book and other allowances and transportation expenses when they go to the place of their school for the school opening and when they go home to their provinces after the end of the semester.
Unlike in earlier years when qualifiers for college education under the DOST could enroll in private schools, Lachica said the DOST scholarship only allows college scholars to enroll at public colleges and universities now.
Lachica anticipates that by September of this year, application forms for qualified 4th year high school students will be available, with the examinations most likely to be held in December. He advised those interested to also take college entrance examinations in schools of their choices.
"This is important as they might pass the DOST scholarship examinations but could not be admitted in schools of their choices if they have not taken and passed the entrance examinations given by the school," Lachica reminded.
Besides the DOST scholarhips, Lachica said the DOST in Aklan is deep in the performance of its functions and services. Just this week, according to Lachica, the office assisted two groups who availed of the DOST's expertise through skills trainings on dyeing of fabrics, and food processing.
Currently, the DOST is also assisting Aklan's Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in their various production stages, including packaging, referring them to the packaging center in Iloilo put up by the DOST in cooperation with the Taytay Sa Kauswagan for further marketing enhancement.
Some of these SMEs, Lachica said, are now sporting attractive packagings courtesy of the packaging center.
Also, in recognition of the SMEs' role in job generation in the province, Lachica revealed that the DOST is now offering assistance to these SMEs through upgrading, technical assistance and consultancies.
(PIA)