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In a bid
to create a critical mass of highly qualified future
leaders in education, the Department of Science and
Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) is
offering 250 slots for science and mathematics teachers in
the country.
President
Arroyo has avowed support for graduate scholarships,
starting with the Accelerated Science and Technology Human
Resource Development Program and the Engineering Research
and Development Technology Program.
The
science education graduate scholarship intends to develop
a pool of highly trained teachers who graduated with
honors in their undergraduate science and mathematics
courses, and have rendered meritorious teaching service
for at least two years.
“When you
think of education, you think of teachers. They make up
the backbone of our education system. Without them, our
selfless men and women, our children would fall short of
their dreams and aspirations,” Arroyo said.
Science
Secretary Estrella Alabastro said the agency has created a
consortium among four universities in the Visayas and
Mindanao to establish a quality graduate program in science and
mathematics education and to catalyze the development of a
critical pool of experts in science and technology
education, especially in the Visayas and
Mindanao
areas.
“Highly
trained science and mathematics teachers produce better
students who would, in the end, be part of the science
community of the country. This is an opportunity the
government is giving for talented teachers of science and
math,” she said.
Dr. Ester
Ogena, DOST-SEI director, said the Science Education
Consortium Component of the Accelerated Science and
Technology Human Resource Development Program was put up
to develop the future teacher, who would be instruments in
upgrading the knowledge and competencies of science and
mathematics teachers in the country.
“We put up
this consortium for developing a core group of young
leaders in science and math education and providing for a
system in developing HRD capacity at the other equally
important parts of the Philippines,” she said.
Admitted
scholars are entitled with free tuition and other school
fees, monthly stipend, transportation allowance, book
allowance, group accident insurance, and thesis/
dissertation allowance.
Applicant
must be an honor graduate in their bachelor’s degree or a
former DOST-SEI scholar. He/She should have at least two
years experience in teaching; have been admitted to the
Master/Ph.D. in Science Education Consortium Program in
any of the identified institutions; have at least two
years teaching experience in science and mathematics; be
of good health and character; not more than 40 years old;
not a recipient of other scholarships.
Fields of
specialization applicants may take up are biology,
mathematics, physics and chemistry at the
West Visayas State University,
University of San Carlos, Western Mindanao State
University and Mindanao State University-Marawi City.
The
applicants could also submit an application for the
scholarship program if they are taking up or about to take
up their masters and doctorate degrees at UP-Diliman,
UP-Open University,
De La Salle University or Ateneo de Manila. | 
