165 DOST scholar-graduates set to be deployed to public schools in Ilocos

A total of 165 scholar-graduates of the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) are expected to be deployed to public schools in Ilocos region as the Department of Education (DepEd) has allocated teaching positions for them for School Year 2021-2022.

This was announced by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region 1 in a Facebook post.

"One hundred eighteen (118) RA (Republic Act) 7687 scholar-graduates will be deployed in public Junior High School with a teaching position of Teacher I, while 47 RA 10612 scholar-graduates will be given a Special Science Teacher I position and will be deployed in public Senior High Schools in the region,” it said.

RA No. 7687 or the “Science and Technology Scholarship Act of 1994” provides scholarships to talented and deserving students whose families’ socio-economic status does not exceed the set cut-off values of certain indicators.

While, RA No. 10612 or the “Fast-Tracked Science and Technology Scholarship Act of 2013” aims to strengthen the country’s science and technology education by fast-tracking graduates in the sciences, mathematics and engineering who shall teach science and mathematics in secondary schools throughout the country.

"DOST-SEI has recently approved the list of scholar-graduates under the Junior Level Science Scholarship (JLSS) programs (RA 10612 and RA 7687) to be scheduled for deployment,” the DOST Region 1 said.

It noted that that the JLSS program is one of the undergraduate scholarship programs offered by the DOST-SEI for third year college students who are currently enrolled in priority science and technology courses.

Under JLSS, three types of scholarship are being offered. These are Science and Technology scholarship as provided under RA No. 7687; Fast-Tracked Science and Technology scholarship as provided under RA No. 10612; and the MERIT scholarship or the National Science and Technology Authority (NSTA) scholarship under RA No. 2067.

NSTA scholarship is awarded to students with high aptitude in science and mathematics and are willing to pursue careers in the field of science and technology.

The DOST Region 1 cited that new graduates of JLSS program will be given priority for job placement to teach in DepEd high schools specifically in their home province.

"For RA 7687 scholar-graduates will be accommodated as Teacher I in Junior High School given that they must have passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) while the RA 10612 scholar-graduates will be given a provisional status as a Special Science Teacher I position in Senior High Schools, under the condition that they must pass the LET within the first five years if they opt to continue teaching in DepEd after fulfilling their service obligation,” it said.

DOST-SEI Director Dr. Josette Biyo expressed hopes that JLSS program will address the shortage of quality teachers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects in secondary schools.

“We believe this strategy will not only help us produce quality teachers right away but will also ensure dynamic and effective science and mathematics teaching in many schools in the country,” she said.