Have a knack for science? Apply at PSHS

Philippine Science High School. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Students looking to become scientists have until Aug. 15 to submit applications to take the admission test to the Philippine Science High School (PSHS).

To be eligible for enrollment in Grade 7 at PSHS, a student must pass the National Competitive Examination (NCE), which measures scientific and quantitative ability, abstract reasoning and verbal aptitude, according to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

The PSHS is a service institute of the DOST and specializes in teaching science with the goal of preparing students for science and technology careers. It grants scholarships to high school students.

Ma. Lilibeth Padilla of the DOST’s Science and Technology Information Institute said that to take the NCE, a student must be a Grade 6 pupil belonging to the upper 10 percent of batch 2013-14 and must not have a grade below 80 percent as certified by the school principal or registrar.

She said that if an applicant does not belong to the upper 10 percent of his or her class, he or she must have a special aptitude for Science and Math with a final grade of at least 85 percent in both subjects and 80 percent in all other subjects.

An applicant must also be a Filipino citizen without a pending application for immigration, was born on or after June 1, 2000, is in good health, has good conduct and behavior, and has not previously taken the NCE.

Padilla said the NCE application form and its attachments are not for sale and may be downloaded from the PSHS website www.pshs.edu.ph. They are also available and may be filed at the 13 PSHS campuses nationwide, as well as the DOST regional and provincial offices.–Jeannette I. Andrade