Science Secretary Montejo congratulates new PSHS scholars
Department of Science and Technology Secretary Mario G. Montejo congratulated passers of the National Competitive Examination (NCE) by the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) conducted on November 6, 2010 for grade six students all over the country.
“I congratulate the students who have qualified to be part of the Philippine Science Highschool. It is truly a joy in my heart to be a part of honing and shaping the country’s future leaders especially in the field of science and mathematics,” said DOST Secretary Montejo.
The examination is administered to aspiring elementary students nationwide who would like to take specialized science and mathematics education at the PSHS.
There were 1,114 passers out of 20,233 applicants who took the one-step screening around the nation. Qualifiers are encouraged to visit the nearest PSHS campuses before February 10 for pre-enrol or they may visit www.pshs.edu.ph or www.dost.gov.ph for more information.
PSHS was a brain child of the New York University Professor Dr. Leopoldo V. Torralballa. The school was patterned after the Bronx High School of Science, New York. He envisioned a Center of Excellence in science and mathematics for gifted high school students in the country which was realized in 1963 when the first PSHS campus was established in Quezon City. Today, PSHS has grown into 11 campuses nationwide.
PSHS campuses are as follows: PSHS Main Campus, Agham Road in Quezon City; Poblacion, San Ildefonso in Ilocos Sur; San Vicente Annex in Camp 8 Baguio City; Masuc, Bayombong in Nueva Vizcaya; Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles, Pampanga; Tagontong, Goa in Camarines Sur; Brgy. Bito-on in Jaro, Iloilo City; Talaytay in Argao, Cebu; Pawing in Palo, Leyte; Baloi in Lanao del Norte and Sto. Niño, Tugbok District in Mintal, Davao City.
PSHS scholars receive monthly stipend in addition to free tuition fees and free loan of textbooks. Uniform, transportation and living allowances are also provided by the school administration according to the financial capacity of the scholar. In line with these, scholars are expected to meet the highest standard of scholastic achievement and behavior.
However, scholars signs a scholarship contract that compels them to pursue a career in any field of sciences and engineering.
In recent years, PSHS scholars represented the country to the FIRST Robotics Competition in 2009. They took home regional honors as the Highest Rookie Seed Award and the Rookie All-Star Award and the opportunity to represent the country in the national competition in Atlanta, Georgia.
They also placed fourth during the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in San Jose, California.
Secretary Montejo encourages non-passers and other high school students to pursue careers in mathematics and science in the future. “The DOST hopes that in the future, many students will follow a career in the many fields of science to help augment the declining number of technical experts in the country,” Montejo said.
(Joy M. Lazcano. S&T Media Service)
