Question & AnswerQ&A (IRR Republic Act No. 10612)
Republic Act No. 10612 is entitled "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," also known as the "Fast-Tracked S&T Scholarship Act of 2013."
The State prioritizes research and development, invention, innovation, and utilization; and promotes the development of science and technology manpower to support economic development. It also aims to provide quality science and mathematics teachers at the secondary level and scholarships to deserving science students to pursue higher education and teaching careers.
The IRR aims to strengthen science and technology education by fast tracking graduates in sciences, mathematics, and engineering to teach these subjects in secondary schools nationwide through scholarship programs and incentive schemes.
CHED-compliant programs refer to specific programs that meet the minimum requirements prescribed by relevant Commission on Higher Education (CHED) policies, standards, and guidelines.
Applicants must be Filipino citizens, regular third-year college students enrolled in CHED-compliant S&T priority courses at state or private universities, have at least an 83% GWA in their first two college years, and pass the Junior Level Science Scholarship Examination administered by the DOST-SEI.
Recipients receive an annual award equivalent to the complete financial assistance package under RA No. 7687 for full-time study in approved programs at quality schools. The duration is two years for four-year courses or three years for five-year courses like engineering.
Awardees must teach full-time in secondary schools (public or private) teaching subjects like Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or related technology subjects for at least two years as their return of service. Failure to comply requires repayment of the scholarship with applicable interest.
Incentives include a starting salary grade equivalent to Special Science Teacher I in the Philippine Science High School System, priority job placement especially in their home province, relocation allowance, scholarships for further science education courses, and teaching opportunities even if LET eligibility is pending.
Other STEM graduates or professionals with an 83% GWA from reputable universities, Filipino citizens at least 40 years old, who have no conflicting service obligations and comply with PRC and DepEd requirements including teacher training, are allowed to teach in public or private high schools.
The main implementing agencies are the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) responsible for scholarships and monitoring, and the Department of Education (DepEd) responsible for job placement, hiring, and monitoring of qualified teachers.
The DOST-SEI and DepEd coordinate to monitor academic performance and compliance with return of service. They conduct regular meetings and submit reports to the President and Congress every three years and annually thereafter, including tracer studies and recommendations for improvement.
The awardee must repay all amounts disbursed for the scholarship plus interest, as stipulated in the service contract which includes grounds for breach and penalties.
It refers to the two or three-year science scholarship grants awarded to regular third-year college students enrolled in priority S&T courses at identified institutions.
Applicants must execute a service contract agreeing to teach science or mathematics at the secondary level in public or private high schools for a specified period and agree to repay scholarship funds with interest if they fail to comply.
The Philippine Normal University and its networks, CHED-compliant programs, and recognized teacher training centers are tasked to provide training to hired teachers under the program. One thousand scholarships yearly are allocated by DepEd for such training to support eventual LET qualification.