DepEd-7 hopes to produce int’l science fair winner
The biggest science and technology fair in the region spearheaded by Department of Education aims to scout winners that would advance the national level and hopefully grab an international award.
Sylvio Sabino, DepEd- 7 education program supervisor for Science, said the annual Science and Technology Fair starts from the district level and goes all the way to the international level.
The regional Science and Technology Fair opened yesterday, featuring unique science researches and original inventions from young learners and engaging the students and teachers of several activities such as quizzes and robotics games.
Sabino said the regional office is hopeful that winners from the various categories would win the national level and represent the country in the International Science and Engineering Fair.
Two regional champions snatched the national awards in 2016 (a student from Cebu City) and in 2018 (a student from Bogo City) but both were unfortunately unable to win in the international stage.
But more than the prestige, Sabino said DepEd wants to encourage students and instill in them the culture of science and technology, especially with the emergence of modern advancements.
He said the agency intends to develop more science and technology-oriented learners and produce the next generation of experts and researchers that are in demand here in the country.
With that, he said DepEd also makes every effort to improve the students' skills and enhance programs and activities that will hone them.
That is why this year, the agency introduced the Science Innovation Expo that caters to new and original inventions made by the students themselves. The existing activities are the research competition; Robot Game; science intervention material; and the Science Quiz.
Sabino recognized the strong partnership with and support of Vivant Foundation, which is the corporate social responsibility arm of Vivant Corporation, a publicly listed holding company with investments in power generation and distribution and retail electricity services.
Vivant Foundation, for the second time, sponsored DepEd-7's regional Science and Technology Fair.
This year, Vivant strengthens its commitment in improving Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) studies in publis schools.
It launched during the event its college scholarship grant for the regional fair participants.
“We believe that the youth will be able to adapt and thrive in the future by having a good STEM education,” said Vivant Foundation executive director Shem Jose Garcia. "By paying attention to the needs of our communities, we develop and provide forward-looking programs that enable us to attain our vision of bringing Filipinos into the future through innovation in public education."
The foundation's scholarship allows the chosen applicants to pursue a STEM-related college degree with full tuition coverage and book and living allowances, among others. The scholarship is open to participants of the current and recent regional fairs.
Winners of last year's RSTF received STEM-related equipment and teaching tools from Vivant Foundation to promote interest and understanding of science and technology in winning schools.