10,000 students apply for 300 seats in science farming scheme

Scheme offers pupils a chance to study in top universities

As many as 10,000 students applied for 300 seats of the fifth batch of innovative Science Talent Farming Scheme (STFS) of Pakistan Science Foundation. The students will be evaluated by Candidate’s Testing Service (CTS) and the selected candidates will be given an opportunity to study science at the best institutions of the country.

“We have received around 10,000 applications from students who will be evaluated by CTS through a Science Aptitude Test, a paper-based IQ test, a presentation and final interview soon,” Principal Scientific Officer of the foundation, Syeda Rehana Batool said yesterday.

The senior official said around 26 educational boards will also nominate one best student (topper) for participating in this scheme. She said the scheme, offering scholarships for talented science students after completion of Secondary School Certificate, has so far benefited around 1,200 students. The scheme is benefiting a number of students of government schools, since its inception, by providing them an opportunity to get science education at Higher Secondary School level in top notch universities and colleges of the country.

The selection process will be completed by end of March. Students from government institutions and having 60 per cent overall marks and 70 per cent in science subjects are eligible to apply. The students are selected through a federal quota system. They will be given a monthly stipend of Rs10,000 and an opportunity to visit science and technology organisations, universities and labs, she said.