DOST allocates P4 B to gov’t science high schools

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is allocating P4 billion to their Philippine Science High School System (DOSTPSHSS) for 2017. The budget will be used to fund more classroom construction and hire additional teachers necessary to accommodate the incoming Grade 12 students, in view of the completion of the goverrnment overhaul of the basic education curriculum under the Kindergarten to 12 program.

DOST Secretary Fortunato dela Peña said that the DOST-PSHSS was getting P3.99 billion to allow the building of more classrooms for the additional Grade 12, and also to finish the construction of two schoolbuildings for the two new regional campuses of the PSHSS in Region 4-B or the Mimaropa (Mindoro-MarinduqueRomblon-Palawan) and the Zamboanga Peninsula region.

Under former DOST secretary Mario Montejo, the DOST had pursued the aggressive expansion of the PSHSS, allowing it to set up campuses outside Metro Manila to accommodate more students who want to get quality education with focus on the sciences offered by PSHSS.

Upon assumption of Montejo in 2010, the PSHSS had only 10 campuses – the main one in Quezon City and nine regional campuses.

When PSHSS classes opened last Aug. 8, the PSHSS had 16.

Last year, the DOST had increased the maximum monthly stipend issued deserving students coming from poor families to up to P4,000 from the previous P2,500.

Aside from the monthly stipend, scholars are given free books to be returned at the end of the school year.

Other benefits include an the annual P1,800 uniform allowance and one-time round-trip transportation allowance to those who are eligible.