DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, March 2 (PIA) -- A total of 36 students enrolled in the different higher education institutions in Negros Oriental have qualified for this year’s Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute’s Junior Level Science Scholarships (DOST-SEI’s JLSS).
These students represent the 277% increase in the number of qualifiers, compared to last year with only 13 qualifiers for the said scholarship program.
Of the 36 students, 22 are currently enrolled in Negros Oriental State University (NORSU), 13 in Silliman University, and one in Foundation University.
DOST Provincial Director Atty. Gilbert Arbon, in his message to the new batch of scholars, said the scholarships are given only to deserving students.
“We hope this year's batch of scholars will continue the tradition of excellence shown by those who came before them. May they prove to be worthy of the government's confidence in their intellectual abilities, mental toughness, and moral strength. After all, they will be the future pillars of our economy and society, especially in the domain of science, technology, and innovation,” said Arbon.
Ain Aijeleth Jamin Agir, a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology student from Silliman University, expressed her thanks for having been able to qualify for the scholarship.
“I felt some sort of relief because I’ve been wanting to help my family in paying my highly expensive tuition fee,” said Agir.
For Renalyn de Guzman, a BS Geodetic Engineering student from NORSU, said she feels blessed to be one of the new DOST-SEI JLSS scholars.
Due to the pandemic, the submission of scholarship application was done through Electronic Scholarship Application System.
Arbon said the scholarship examination for the DOST-SEI JLSS was once again cancelled for the second time.
DOST-SEI used alternative methods to identify the qualifiers.
“DOST-SEI employed data analytics and proxy indicators. Again this school year, one of the requirements in the selection of the qualifiers to the scholarship program was the applicant’s grades from first year to second year college," said Marjorie Solon, DOST NegOr scholarship coordinator.
JLSS is an undergraduate scholarship program of DOST-SEI.
The said program aims to provide scholarships that will finance the education of talented and deserving students in their third year of college who are pursuing degree programs in the areas of science and technology.
The JLSS Program also aims to ensure a steady, adequate supply of qualified S&T human resources who can steer the country towards national progress.
It has three component programs: the DOST-SEI Merit Scholarship Program, formerly known as the NSDB or NSTA Scholarship under RA No. 2067, the Republic Act No. 7687 also known as the “Science and Technology Scholarship Act of 1994”, and the Republic Act No. 10612, also known as the “Fast-Tracked S&T Scholarship Act of 2013”. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental with reports from Engr. Reinhold Jek Abing of DOST)
