SELECTED Philippine Science High School (PSHS) campuses in the country will add one more section or 30 slots to accommodate more qualifiers for 2019.

PSHS-Southern Mindanao Office of the Student Affairs head Michael Casas said during Kapehan sa Dabaw media forum on Tuesday that from 90, they now accept 120 qualifiers in campuses except the newly-established ones.

He added that the additional section would also require additional teachers, staff and facility.

“We are expanding our operation; we are adding more structures and equipment in our institution,” Casas said.

“Not all campuses, however, could accommodate 120 students like the older campuses like Iloilo City, Davao City and Baguio City as part of the expansion plan,” he said.

PSHS has 16 campuses, namely, the main campus in Diliman, Southern Mindanao, Cagayan Valley, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Central Luzon, Central Mindanao, Cordillera Administrative Region, Bicol Region, Ilocos Region, Central Visayas, Soccsksargen, Caraga Region, Mimaropa Region, Zamboanga Peninsula and Calabarzon Region.

Scholars will receive a monthly stipend in addition to free tuition and free loan of textbooks and are expected to pursue science, mathematics and technology core courses in the tertiary level.

Meanwhile, Curriculum and Instruction Division of PSHS-SM chief Doctor Annie Rodriguez said that the institution was established to give chance to children with skills and potential in the field.

“PSHS is only for the elite as other say it is. Tanan bata, kung naay potential, hatagan og chance (Children with potential should be given a chance),” Rodriguez said.

In 2018, a total of 30,000 students in the country took the exam to qualify at PSHS and more than 1,000 qualified.