MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino wants science students to join the government and use their talents to uplift lives.
Aquino posed the challenge to graduates of the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) in Quezon City during his keynote speech at the school’s 46th commencement exercises and 50th founding anniversary yesterday.
He told “Pisay†graduates that the government is in dire need of science experts.
“The whole country has worked together to give you this opportunity. When the time comes, it will be your turn to help others. Will you choose to say, ‘thanks for everything, but I will think of myself first?’ Or will you choose to dedicate, even a small part of your life, to give back the opportunity given to you by your Pisay education?†the President told graduates.
“May this day serve as a reminder: our country needs you,†he added.
The PSHS System is a specialized public high school system in the country and an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology. It offers scholarships to Filipino students who are gifted in science and mathematics.
Admission to the PSHS is by competitive examination. The school is also known to have a very challenging curriculum to produce the best professionals.
Aquino cited PSHS alumni Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and government chief peace negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, whose footsteps the President said must be followed.
The President said he is aware that being a PSHS student is not easy given the school’s college-level curriculum.
Add to this the fact that many PSHS students did not come from privileged families – they are children of tricycle drivers and farmers working honorably to send them to a good school run by taxpayers’ money, Aquino added.
He also said that since high-quality education is needed for the country to have science experts, his administration is determined to put up science high schools in the country’s 16 regions.
Since he assumed office in 2010 and since the establishment of the school in 1964, Aquino said nine campuses had been built under his term. Now, there are 13 science high schools in the country.
Unfamiliar jobs in demand
Following graduations in schools across the country, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported yesterday that fresh graduates and other job seekers are not familiar with many of the vacancies being offered during job fairs.
“We have observed that in the many job fairs that DOLE has initiated, there are many vacancies for mold maintenance manager and other highly technical skills,†DOLE’s Labor Communication Office director Nicon Fameronag said. – With Mayen Jaymalin