SAN ILDEFONSO, Ilocos Sur, Aug. 29 (PIA) – Do you want to be a Pisay scholar?
 
The Philippine Science High School (PSHS)-Ilocos Region Campus here is accepting and processing applications online of incoming Grade 7 scholars for School Year (SY) 2022 to 2023.
 
Using the same system as the previous year, PSHS-IRC will implement an alternative selection process called RACE or the Requirement for Admission, Criteria and Evaluation to screen prospective scholars.
 
Dr. Ronnalee Orteza, director of PSHS-Ilocos Region Campus, said that the PSHS system has implemented the change in its admission process for students due to the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic where physical entrance examinations have not yet been conducted. 

“In lieu of the yearly pen-and-paper PSHS National Competitive Examination (NCE), applicants will be screened and evaluated through the RACE. The top 240 applicants will be considered as Principal Qualifiers of the PSHS-Main Campus while the top 90 or 120 (depending on the quota per campus) will be candidates for admission as Principal Qualifiers of the different regional campuses in the country,” Dr. Orteza said during the Serbisyo Publiko Media Forum of PIA Ilocos Sur.

This selection procedure will be conducted in two stages. 
 
The first stage is to determine the applicant’s predicted NCE grade (PNG). 
 
The PNG is based on the applicant’s final grades in Science and Mathematics in Grade 5.

Instead of a physical exam, a written essay will be required to the top PNG scorers who will proceed to stage 2.
 
The combined PNG, points from academic ranking, and score in the essay of the top scorers will be ranked from highest to lowest. 
 
For eligible Grade 6 students who want to become Pisay scholars, visit nce.pshs.edu.ph for online application.
 
For walk-in applicants, forms are available and could be submitted in the following offices: PSHS campuses, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) regional offices, or Provincial Science and Technology Offices, and they must bring with them the necessary documents needed to file their application.
 

Dr. Orteza reminded interested applicants that they must have a final grade of 85 percent or better in Science and Mathematics to be eligible for the RACE, but if their grade is below 85 percent, they must provide evidence that they belong to the upper 10 percent of their academic batch.
 
“The applicant must also be a Filipino citizen with no pending or approved application as an immigrant to a foreign country; have at least a satisfactory rating or its equivalent in his/her Character Rating in his/her report card; must have not previously applied for admission in PSHS; and preferably in good health and fit to undergo a rigorous academic program,” she added.
 
Deadline for submission of requirements is on October 22 and 29, 2021 for private and public schools, respectively.
 
For more information, interested applicants may contact Ms. Jenyfer Rabang, the registrar of PSHS-Ilocos Region Campus at (077) 674-1454 or 0927-2741326 or via email at registrar@irc.pshs.edu.ph.  (JCR/AMB/PIA Ilocos Sur)