By Michael Visaya

Mariano Marcos State University is hosting this year’s second meeting of the National Consortium in Graduate Science and Mathematics Education (NCGSME) Council of the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) from May 14 to 16 at the MMSU Hostel.

Participated by project directors from various state universities and colleges in the Philippines, including MMSU, the council will specifically deliberate on the DOST-SEI’s 2025 Call for Capability Building Program in Science and Mathematics Education (CBPSME) scholarship program.

In addition, the event will tackle the 11th National Research Conference in Science and Mathematics Education, the CBPSME Scholar’s Journal, and additional updates on their scholarship offerings.

The delegates, headed by Dr. Jayeel Cornelio, DOST-SEI Director, were welcomed by Dr. Aris Reynold Cajigal, Vice President for Academic Affairs and CBPSME project director for MMSU, during their courtesy call with MMSU President Virgilio Julius Manzano.

According to Dr. Cornelio, the Philippine basic education system needs science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teachers not just in numbers but in quality. “This move and all other programs that the DOST-SEI is conducting are in support of the enhancement of the quality of STEM education in the country.”

Meanwhile, MMSU President Dr. Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr. recognizes the program's role as a partner of the university in producing caliber graduates specializing in science and technology. “We will ensure that MMSU will cooperate in this goal, specifically at the College of Teacher Education and Graduate School,” he remarked.

MMSU, along with other higher education institutions in the country, forged membership in the CBPSME of the DOST-SEI in 2018. This program offers scholarships to Filipino citizens pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees in education with a specialization in STEM, covering a range of expenses, including stipends, book allowances, and thesis grants.

As of this writing, DOST-SEI’s scholarship grant has produced 43 graduates and 79 ongoing scholars from MMSU, while 17 scholars have received thesis grants from the program.