RA 10612: STRENGTHENING THE TEACHING OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY THROUGH SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS

By Joseph Dave Bermil JD1 and Philip Andrew Lamaton JD1

Brief history: Fast-Tracked S&T Scholarship Act of 2013)

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10612 which is AN ACT EXPANDING THE COVERAGE OF THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (S&T) SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AND STRENGTHENING THE TEACHING OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.^[1]

Implementing the R.A. 10612 is the “realization of Section 8 of the Kindergarten to Grade 12 (K-to-12) law,” which pushes for the hiring of graduates of science, math, statistics, engineering, and other specialists as teachers.

“SEC. 8. The hiring of Graduates of Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering and Other Specialists in Subjects With a Shortage of Qualified Applicants, Technical-Vocational Courses and Higher Education Institution Faculty.”^[2]

Importance of Science and Technology in National Development

Development is necessary in every individual to every nation in all aspects and for development to happen, science and technology go hand in hand. Basically, science is known as the study of knowledge, which is made into a system and depends on analyzing and understanding facts. Technology is fundamentally the practical application of this scientific knowledge.

A country who is not able to do something to prosper on these grounds may have to solely depend on other nations for the basic requirements. Additionally, the country might not be able to improve the basic life of its constituents. Such is the great influence of science and technology for the development of any nation.

For the Philippines to have a successful economy, particularly in today’s quest for knowledge-based economies, science, technology and engineering are the basic requisites. The Philippines must value science and technology, then the chances of getting ourselves developed and self-sufficient becomes maximal and thus we could not be called an undeveloped nation. Science and Technology is associated in all means with modernity and it is an essential tool for rapid development.^[3]

Purpose and Objectives

Technology, science, and knowledge are important in modern society. The understanding of how social, cultural, and material elements influence the production of new practices, new ways of understanding and new institutions is vital in our understanding of contemporary postmodern society.^[4]

The state shall provide scholarships to deserving science students and other specially gifted citizens to give an opportunity and enable them to pursue higher education or training in the areas of science, technology, and engineering, and to provide incentives for them to become secondary school teachers, especially in their home regions. The law would increase the number of science, technology, and engineering graduates by offering scholarships to deserving students in their third year of undergraduate study, based on their competitiveness and merit. It pushes for careers in science and math, especially in developing the mindsets of the Filipino youth^[5]

It aims to strengthen the country’s science and technology education. Fast-tracking graduates in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering who shall teach science and mathematics subjects in secondary schools throughout the country. Towards this end, scholarships shall be provided to finance the education of talented and deserving students in their third year of college, and pursue a degree or training in the areas of science and technology, and to provide incentives for them to pursue a career in teaching in high schools, especially in their home regions.

For this purpose, the State shall have an education system that will develop, productive and responsible citizens equipped with the essential and fundamental competencies, skills and values for both lifelong learning and employment. In order to achieve this, the State shall:

(a) Give every student an opportunity to receive a quality education that is globally competitive that is at par with international standards;

(b) Broaden the goals of education, vocational and technical career opportunities, and creative arts, sports, and entrepreneurial employment in a rapidly changing and increasingly globalized environment; and

Effectiveness of the law and its values

The DOST-SEI, as the main implementing body of the act, shall plan and prescribe timely and relevant guidelines to monitor and evaluate the academic performance of the scholars.

As the partner of DOST-SEI, DepEd will ensure job placement and hiring of qualified graduates under this program as secondary school teachers in science, mathematics and related technology courses, as well as the monitoring and evaluating of the teachers under this program.^[7]

Studies of technology and science gives insight into the understanding and knowledge of technology, science and knowledge from the viewpoint of the humanities and the social sciences. Throughout the course of study students will become familiar with amendments of social and cultural analyses of modern science and technology in interaction with social, political, economical and cultural processes of change.

Since the beginning of its implementation, the Republic Act has awarded thousands of scholarships to students throughout the Philippines. Through this, the Act also gave opportunities to pursue a quality education through financial aid to gifted students who otherwise could not afford such education. We can view evidences of these accomplishments through the agency’s website (https://sei.dost.gov.ph/index.php/newhome) which posts regular updates about their activities in compliance with the Republic Act 10612.

Moreover, the law promotes the presence and importance of science and technology in the general population. It provides intangible benefits towards developing our country into a nation full of scientists and engineers. As these professionals are majorly responsible for creating opportunities and development in the economic, infrastructural, and general welfare aspects of the country.

In addition to providing scholarships to students who are gifted but who are otherwise hindered by their financial circumstances, the Republic Act also helped in the creation and the establishment of new teachers in the field of science and technology. This assures scholars that they would not be at risk of unemployment in the future since the Philippines is in a constant shortage of teachers on all levels of education. The scholars are also given additional incentives for their service as teachers on top of their assured employment. This is especially impactful in remote areas in the country where access to basic facilities and quality teachers are not easily available. The new teachers could also in return inspire and encourage students to choose science and engineering as their future course and career. As a result, potentially creating more students that are focused on creating and building for the betterment and development of the country.

Salient points of the law the public ought to know or remember:

Qualifications the applicants must have to be a candidate for a scholarship with teaching incentive (Section 5)
Be a Filipino citizen
A regular third-year college student at the time of award
Be currently enrolled in any of the state universities or colleges or in private universities especially in Commission on Higher Education (CHED)–compliant programs, under any of the identified priority S&T course
Have a general weighted average (GWA) of eighty–three percent (83%) or better during their first and second year of college
Quality in the Junior–Level Science Scholarship Examination^[8]
How much the recipient should receive as financial assistance (Section 6)
Recipients are entitled to an annual award for full-time study equal to the complete financial assistance package offered under Republic Act No. 7687, for students attending an approved undergraduate program at quality schools, such as CHED-compliant programs and DOST Network Institutions, public or private, with minimum slots awarded in private schools to offset differences in tuition costs.
The duration of the scholarship (Section 7)
Recipients shall be entitled to an award for the last two (2) years of undergraduate study, or the last three (3) years for those enrolled in five (5)-year courses such as engineering while matriculating in an approved program.^[9]
Approved Courses and Priority Programs (Section 8)
Recipients shall pursue degrees in science, technology, and engineering, as identified and approved by the DOST as priority S&T courses. Applicants who are currently enrolled under such courses under the CHED-compliant programs will be given priority.^[10]
Terms and Conditions (Section 9 – 12)
Agree to teach as their return of service (ROS)
Agree to any of the approved ROS conditions –
1. Award recipients must teach full-time high school subject(s) in Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, or Physics; or Information Technology or Agricultural, Aquaculture or Fisheries Technology, both in the university and technical-vocational tracks in the secondary education curriculum, for a minimum of two (2) years, in a public or private high school.
Agree to repay the amounts disbursed plus interest pursuant to the terms of their service contract.^[11]
Implementing Agencies (Section 14 & 15)
Science Education Institute (SEI) / (Section 14)
1. The Department of Science and Technology–Science Education Institute Is the main implementing agency of the provisions in this Act. This organization is also responsible for evaluation, award-giving, and monitoring of scholarship grants and awardees^[12]
Department of Education (DepED) / (Section 15)
1. Tasked to ensure job placement and hiring of qualified graduates under this program as secondary school teachers in science, mathematics, and related technology courses, and to ensure that these teachers are hired at Special Science Teacher salary grade levels, as specified in this Act. The Department is also tasked with the evaluation and monitoring of hired teachers under this program.^[13]