THE goal of the Department of Science and Technology–Cordillera to have a scholar in every community in the region is now becoming a reality.
Only 16 out of the 75 municipalities and two cities in Cordillera lack representation in the 153 new scholars of the DOST for academic year 2014 – 2015.
DOST-Cordillera Regional Director Julius Caesar Sicat reported there are 153 students from Cordillera who passed their scholarship qualifying exam with only 16 municipalities in the region (14 in Abra, one in Apayao and one in Kalinga) are not represented.
Towards the attainment of its goal, DOST signed a memorandum of agreement with the Regional Development Council for the conduct of review classes to applicants of DOST scholarship qualifying examination.
Sicat also proudly reported promotion of Science and Technology courses to the youth is gaining ground in Cordillera as from the 95 qualifiers last year, the region achieved a 61 percent increase with the 153 new scholars for this coming academic year.
For this year, 46 scholars of DOST will graduate mostly in engineering courses. Others are graduating from the Bachelor of Science in Physics, Mathematics, Information Technology and Biology.
Sicat also disclosed DOST – CAR has 318 other scholars enrolled in various S&T – related courses, majority (187) of whom are enrolled in Saint Louis University in Baguio City.
Meantime, Sicat outlined the importance of having more Cordillera students embarking on Science and Technology – related subjects. Aside from the high employability, these courses can open the door for entrepreneurship.
"If the region is going into regional autonomy and development, having more S&T graduates is essential. Our youth just need to believe in science, it really works," Sicat stressed.
In the forum, two former DOST scholarship grantees and two graduating scholars also shared their own stories and experiences being S&T scholars.
Jasmine Lee Donaal, 1995 scholar who took up Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in SLU and graduated as Cum Laude, is currently employed at DOST-CAR as a Science Research Specialist.
Mildred Bolinget (2009 grantee) who took up Secondary Education, Major in Mathematics at SLU and graduated Magna Cum Laude, is now working as a Math Teacher at the University of Baguio High School Department. (Carlito Dar)