Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 10612)
The short title of Republic Act No. 10612 is the "Fast-Tracked Science and Technology (S&T) Scholarship Act of 2013."
The State declares a policy to prioritize science, technology, and engineering as essential for national development, giving priority to research, development, invention, innovation, and their utilization. It also aims to promote development of the country's science and technology manpower, provide quality science and mathematics teachers in secondary schools, and offer scholarships and incentives to deserving students to pursue S&T education and teaching careers.
The Act aims to strengthen the country's science and technology education by fast-tracking graduates in sciences, mathematics, and engineering to teach in secondary schools nationwide, providing scholarships for talented students in their third year of college pursuing S&T degrees, and giving incentives to encourage them to become high school teachers, especially in their home regions.
Eligible applicants must be Filipino citizens, regular third-year college students enrolled in state universities or CHED-compliant private programs in priority S&T courses, have a general weighted average of 83% or better during their first and second year, and must qualify in the Junior-Level Science Scholarship Examination.
The scholarship award lasts for the last two years of undergraduate study or the last three years for those enrolled in five-year courses like engineering, while matriculating in an approved program.
Awardees must agree to teach as their return of service (ROS), comply with any approved ROS conditions, and repay the amount disbursed plus interest if they fail to fulfill the service contract within a specified time limit.
Recipients must teach full-time high school subjects in Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Information Technology, or Agricultural, Aquaculture or Fisheries Technology for a minimum of two years in a public or private high school.
Incentives include a starting salary grade equivalent to Special Science Teacher I in the Philippine Science High School System, priority for placement especially in their home province, a one-time relocation allowance if assigned away from their permanent residence, scholarships in teacher education courses, and the requirement to pass the Licensure Examination for Teachers within five years of hiring.
The Department of Science and Technology - Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) is the main implementing agency responsible for scholarship grants and monitoring. The Department of Education (DepED) ensures job placement, salary grade adherence, and monitoring of hired teachers.
If any provision is held invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or provisions not affected shall remain valid and subsisting, pursuant to the separability clause.