Are you ongoing regular sophomore students taking up courses in Science, Engineering or Mathematics, or other courses in Science and Technology? If you are, then you should apply for the forthcoming DOST scholarship examination for junior students. You’ll have a better future if you become DOST JLSS scholars this 2019!
First, let’s explain what DOST JLSS mean.
This is in consideration of young people who just might get interested to apply for it when they’re already qualified to do so.
JLSS stands for Junior Level Science Scholarships.
It is a scholarship program of the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) for third year or junior college students. These are those who are taking courses that are included in the DOST-SEI list of fields of study. They should also be enrolled in state universities and colleges approved by the said agency.
What are the benefits of being DOST JLSS scholars?
As DOST JLSS scholars, you are entitled to a monthly allowance amounting to P7,000.00, regardless of your scholarship categories and courses. Aside from this, you’ll be provided P10,000.00 book allowance for the whole school year. This amount may be partially released and may be divided into half.
The DOST-SEI will shoulder your tuition and other school fees, provided these don’t exceed DOST’s allotted funds for the said fees.
If you’re studying in a state university, your tuition and other fees are now free! But if you’re in a private school, DOST will shoulder your tuition and other fees, as long as those won’t exceed their allotted funds for school fees per year, amounting to P40,000.00. And if you have summer classes indicated in your curricular program, you may reimburse your tuition fees for that too! But this of course should not exceed the amount DOST-SEI allots for tuition and other fees during Summer Term.
You’ll receive stipends for your Summer Class.
Don’t feel sad just in case you have a subject to take during Summer Term. In fact, you should be happy. You’re learning a course while at the same time receiving stipends for two months! Aside from this, you can reimburse the amount of book you’ll buy for your Summer class, just make sure it’s not more than the amount to be allotted by DOST for the books you’ll need for Summer.
If you study far from your home region, like you need to ride a plane or a ship, you may reimburse your transportation for the school year.
A round trip fare for the school year means the ticket you bought when you leave your house for the start of the school year, and the one you bought when you leave for home at the end of the school year. Your trip must be classified as economy-class to be reimbursed.
You’ll have the chance to have a 240 hours’ Summer Practical Training Program.
The Summer Practical Training Program (SPTP) is something to look forward to. Here’s where you can apply what you’re learning. You’ll also have the chance to choose where you want to have it.
However, you might encounter a conflict with schedule if you have your Summer class. The best thing to do is ask your class adviser if you can be endorsed to an institution who will agree with a flexible schedule. For example, if you have a morning class, then you’ll have your SPTP in the afternoon. Just make sure you finish the 240 hours’ training to get your full stipends for two months. Otherwise, you’ll receive less than that. Your stipends will be computed based on the number of hours of your training.
Aside from these things, what should DOST JLSS scholars this 2019 need to know?
Applicants can choose among RA 10612, RA 7687 and Merit categories. Students who are taking pure Science, Math and other DOST approved pure courses, should choose R.A. 10612. On the other hand, students taking Science, Math and other relevant DOST courses with education or teaching curricular programs, should choose R.A. 7687. Then students whose parents have high income should choose the Merit program.
What’s in store for a DOST JLSS teacher?
You’ll be given a salary which is equivalent to that of a Special Science Teacher 1 in the Philippine Science High School System. That means your salary grade will be equivalent to Teacher 3 position.
After your graduation, you will be endorsed by DOST to the DepEd Main Office. Then you will be endorsed by the latter to the corresponding Division Offices for school assignments.
The first thing to do after your graduation is to visit your DOST Regional Offices. Kindly ask the employees if you have already been endorsed to DepEd for available teaching positions. If they have already done so, request that you be given a contact number or email address of the DepEd official where you may ask your status. DepEd will update you if you already have items and if you’ve been endorsed to the Division Office. You just need to go to the Division Office from time to time to know the requirements you need to submit and where or when you’re going to teach.
You can choose between public and private secondary schools.
Just inform DOST-SEI if you choose to teach in a private school so that you won’t be included in the list for public school assignments.
What about your training at the Philippine Normal University (PNU)?
Check with DepEd when you’ll have the Certificate in Teaching Program (CTP) before going to PNU.
As of this writing, the JLSS graduates are rendering service first. DepEd will inform you when you’ll have your CTP. Anyway, visit the website of PNU if you have time and search the requirements. Search as well the step-by-step procedures for enrolment. This way, you’ll know in advance the steps to be taken when you’ll already enroll for CTP. You may also inquire at the PNU Admissions Office for more details.
The DepEd and DOST will coordinate so that you don’t have to pay the tuition and other fees for your CTP.
Make a request to DepEd for your endorsement to PNU when you’re already given the go signal to have your CTP.
What if you want to study first before rendering service as teachers?
In previous years, scholar-graduates under this program must teach or serve first before they may enroll for Master’s Degree programs. However, The Batch 2019 soon-to-be graduates can now opt to enroll for graduate study programs before serving. So it would be best that you update DOST-SEI with your plans.
But should you decide to serve first in a public school, wait for DepEd’s call or email about your school assignments or endorsements to the Division Office. Then if you wish to serve by teaching in private schools, inform DOST-SEI about your decision to give up your items in the public school.
So what should you do to become DOST JLSS scholars?
Here the the important things you need to do to have a slot for DOST JLSS Scholarship:
- Visit the DOST website, www.sei.dost.gov.ph. Download the DOST JLSS brochure and application form if they’re already available.
- Check the requirements and start preparing your documents in advance. Make sure to complete those on or before the deadline of application. For this year, the deadline of application is on April 26, 2019 and the examination day is on June 2, 2019.
- Prepare for the scholarship examination. Practice online timed tests and review the DOST primer which can be found on their website.
Where should you submit your requirements for the DOST JLSS examination?
Submit all your requirements to the DOST Science Education Institute in Bicutan, Taguig City. You may also submit your requirements to DOST Regional Offices near you. Take note that DOST Regional Offices are different from university-based DOST Offices. The university-based offices implement the scholarship programs of DOST and take care of the scholars enrolled in the university. But they are not part of the screening committees of DOST.
If you’ve become DOST JLSS scholars, it is important to know the law that was created for your scholarship program.
Don’t just know the benefits of being recipients. You should also know your responsibilities. The law will guide you, aside from the scholarship policies. These will help you be the responsible and smart scholar-teachers you’re meant to be.
So what are you waiting for?
Apply now. Become DOST JLSS scholars this 2019 and have a bright future ahead of you!
