Secretary Estrella F. Alabastro of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) announced that a total of 2,876 high school graduates who took the 2007 S & T Scholarship Examination have qualified for scholarship awards of the DOST-Science Education Institute (SEI). She said that this year's qualifiers were selected from among the 17,118 examinees belonging to the top 5% of the Batch 2007 graduates from various regions nationwide. There were 2,510 who qualified for RA 7687 Science and Technology Scholarships, while 366 will be awarded with the DOST-SEI Merit Scholarships. The scholars must enroll in 4 or 5-year baccalaureate degree courses identified as priority fields in science and technology.

Dr. Ester B. Ogena, SEI Director, said that the scholars will be entitled to tuition fees, monthly stipends, book and transportation allowances and group accident insurance. She added that the qualifiers will receive a notice of scholarship award from the DOST-SEI or the DOST Regional Offices stating the date of orientation and contract signing. Each qualifier is required to report at the designated venue with a parent/legal guardian and to bring the following documents: accompanying parent's/guardian's 2007 Community Tax Certificate, documentary stamp and notarization fee. A legal guardian is required to present his/her affidavit of guardianship.

The S & T Scholarship Programs are part of the DOST-SEI's strategy to identify and nurture talented Filipino youths in science and technology who can be the future leaders of a competent workforce that will bring about more breakthroughs in Philippine S & T.

The new S & T scholars can also look forward to continuing scholarship grants if they want to pursue higher learning once they finish their Bachelor of Science courses. The DOST has recently announced slots for master's and doctoral degree (MS/PhD) scholarships with increased financial assistance for graduate level education in S & T. Currently, there are 6,572 beneficiaries of the RA 7687 Scholarship Program, while 766 are being supported under the Merit Scholarship Program.

The following are the qualifiers of the 2007 S & T Scholarships (also available online at www.sei.dost.gov.ph).

2007 DOST-SEI MERIT PASSERS
2007 RA 7687 PASSERS