By Ariel Fernandez Qualifiers to the Department of Science and Technology - Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) Scholarship Programs reached yet another all-time high as 9,852 graduating high school students clinch a slot in the country’s premier science scholarship programs. This year’s qualifiers breached the 8,994 mark of last year’s passers, up by 10 percent, a record for the scholarship program which started in 1958. Out of the total number of passers, 5,819 qualified as scholars under the RA 7687 Scholarship Program, scholarships for academically talented students who belong to economically disadvantaged families; while 4,033 top ranking examinees passed under the DOST-SEI Merit Scholarship Program. The 2019 DOST-SEI Undergraduate Scholarship Examination which was held on October 21, 2018 in 290 test centers nationwide hit a record-breaking of 73,712 total number of examinees. Dr. Josette T. Biyo, DOST-SEI Director, said that DOST scholarship programs will provide greater opportunity to students as they pursue a college science degree, especially to those who are hard up in life. “The scholarship will certainly allow the students to pursue their dreams in their desired fields in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in leading universities and colleges and will ultimately lead them to become key players in the country’s development once they practice their professions four or five years from now,” said Dr. Biyo. “We are hopeful that these qualifiers will soon help us in creating S&T-based solutions to our pressing national concerns.” Dr. Biyo added. The new S&T scholars will receive monthly stipend at ₱7,000 across all disciplines. They are also entitled to tuition fee subsidy up to ₱40,000 per academic year; book allowance; MS/PE clothing allowance (one-time only); one economy-class round trip fare per year for those studying outside of their home province; and group accident insurance. The scholarship qualifiers must enroll in any of the University of the Philippines’ campuses; or in state universities and colleges; or private higher education institutions recognized by the Commission on Higher Education as Centers of Excellence or Centers of Development; or with Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines Level III accreditation for the S&T priority programs they will enroll in. The list of priority S&T programs can be found in the SEI website. DOST-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. SEI maintains its resolve that this strategy allows the country’s industries to have “the best minds” to do value-added services and products. “As early as now, we welcome these new scholars in the S&T community,” she said. “We are optimistic that they are more than qualified to be the experts that will lead this nation towards the development we always hoped for.” The official list of qualifiers to the 2019 DOST-SEI Undergraduate Scholarships Program is posted on www.sei.dost.gov.ph.