PSHSS bares RACE Stage II qualifiers
Stage 1 complete! The RACE is officially in its last half.
After screening thousands of Philippine Science High School (PSHS) scholarship applicants for Stage 1, the list of more than 2,000 successful students was released by the Department of Science and Technology — Philippine Science High School System (DOST-PSHS System) three days ago, January 23.
The PSHS System published the list containing 2,880 names who will be continuing the National Competitive Examination — Requirements for Admission, Criteria and Evaluation (NCE-RACE) on February 3 for the Stage 2 screening.
“The list released contains the names of applicants who have qualified for the Stage 2 [of RACE]. It will also be published in newspapers nationwide," PSHS-Caraga Region Campus Director Engr. Ramil Sanchez shared in an interview.
Since physical examinations cannot be conducted due to the ongoing coronavirus (CoVid-19) pandemic, the PSHSS has implemented RACE: a new system of admitting Grade 6 students from various regions of the country.
The selection process is conducted in two stages. In the first stage of the selection process, applicants’ Predicted NCE Grade (PNG) will be computed. Described by PSHS Executive Director Lilia Habacon, The PNG is based merely on their Science and Mathematics final grades in Grade 5, and other variables.
“Ito pong plus other variables, ito po ‘yong mag-equalize, magle-level ng playing field…” Habacon explained.
“Halimbawa ‘yong galing sa public [o] private [school], kung ano ‘yong province mo. Actually mga characteristic ng schools,” she added.
As there are 1,800 quotas on 16 PSHS campuses, only 2,880 applicants who have gathered high enough PNGs passed the Stage 1 screening and will proceed to writing essays in Stage 2, instead of the examination.
Final stage qualifiers will be informed through e-mails and text messages for specific details of the Stage 2 requirements by the Office of Admission, PSHSS further announced.
The list can be accessed through the website of PSHS System or Philippine Science High School System — News (pshs.edu.ph).
According to sources, an essay question will be sent to the applicants’ email addresses and mobile numbers at 12 in the afternoon of February 3. Afterwards, they are given 24 hours to answer the given question and submit their output.
The results for the Stage 2 screening is expected to be released in April.
At the end of the interview, Sanchez let out some words of encouragement to those who failed the first stage of RACE, calling on to still pursue Science, Technology, Mathematics, and Engineering (STEM) courses, as the country needs more of them.
“To those who did not make it to Pisay, aspire to take up STEM to become future Scientists, Technologists, Engineers and Mathematicians. We need more STEM leaders and professionals,” he reasoned.
Meanwhile, he also enjoined those who qualified for the second stage to prepare for the essay and visit the campus if ever the quarantine protocols allow them.
