COTABATO CITY—The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) opens up educational assistance and other opportunities to the less privileged yet deserving Bangsamoro youth to develop and capacitate themselves in Science and Technology related courses.
Almansor Ong Mokamad, information officer of MOST, said their ministry offers various opportunities for the youth during the Bangsamoro YoutHours 22nd episode, Thursday, June 2.
MOST centered its programs on Research and Development, Science and Technology Services, Science Education Scholarships and Grants, Bangsamoro Standards Halal Testing Laboratories, and support to the DOST nationally funded programs.
Highlighting youth opportunities, Science Education Scholarship and Grants programs were established to improve scientific and technological advancement in the BARMM region and enhance quality education through scholarship programs, provide capacity building and upgrade school laboratories in the region.
Included in the said initiative is the Bangsamoro Assistance for Science Education (BASE), a financial assistance initiative exclusively for the incoming freshmen students taking science and technology related courses. However, non-STEM related students who wish to avail the said opportunity should belong to the top five percent of the graduating class.
The students will undertake the qualifying examination. Eligible grantees will be given with cash assistance worth 8,000 pesos every month.
The office also offers the BASE Merit Program, which caters youth with high aptitude in Science and Technology courses, and are willing to pursue advanced and highly technical courses such as petroleum engineering, aeronautics, agricultural chemistry, chemical engineering, robotics, along with others. Eligible awardees will receive 20,000 pesos per month.
Another program is the Mujahideen Assistance of Science Education, a program in collaboration with other ministries, which aims to provide financial assistance to scholars who are children of combatants.
The program is open to any college level, and does not have a qualifying examination. Grantees will receive an amount of 8,000 pesos each month. However, for the meantime, the said initiative delimits beneficiaries due to the unavailability of funds to cater more youth.
Mokamad, in his message, encouraged the Bangsamoro youth to take scholarship opportunities, and pursue science related fields in order to contribute for the prosperity of the Bangsamoro region.
“Narito po ang ating opisina upang mabigyan kayo ng suporta sa inyong pag-aaral. Upang maipagpatuloy ninyo ito para sa inyong kinabukasan at kinabukasan ng Bangsamoro region,” he said.
“Kung nais nating magkaroon ng self-development at career development ay pasukin po natin ang mga ganitong oportunidad, para makatulong na rin tayo sa ating national development, regional development, at sustainability,” he added.
MOST is mandated to set direction, and leads in the field of science, research, invention and technology education and development. It also ensures full implementation, effective participation in planning, programming, coordination and implementation of scientific technological approaches and researches. (BYC PR Unit)
