GOVPH

Choosing the right track may be the hardest decision for some Senior High School (SHS) graduates. Most of them are unsure of the course they may take at the tertiary level; although they are on a specific track already, there is still a lot to consider.

Under the K-12 curriculum, SHS students may choose from General Academic Strand (GAS), Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS), Technical Vocational (TechVoc), and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). These tracks help the students to prepare for their chosen career paths at the tertiary level.

However, according to the Baseline study published by the Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment (PBCWE) in 2021, several factors affect the decisions of the students when choosing STEM-related career paths. This includes a lack of confidence in their Technology, Engineering, or Math skills and a lack of awareness of STEM-related careers.

Meanwhile, the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) Director IV Dr. Jayeel S. Cornelio said that high school students should consider a STEM-related path because this is a transformative path on both personal and societal levels. 

“On the personal end, it builds essential skills such as creativity, critical thinking, futures-thinking, and problem-solving skills, among many others. Meanwhile, on the societal end, the field gives birth to innovations and research that shape our world for the better,” Dr. Cornelio said in an interview.

Students from non-STEM tracks can pursue STEM courses in college. DOST-SEI said most universities in the Philippines make special arrangements for these students wherein they undergo bridging programs and take additional coursework as prerequisite subjects. 

High-paying jobs in the country

In 2023, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) released the results of the 2022 Occupational Wages Survey, which includes the Top 10 Highest-Paying Occupations in the country, where most of these belong to the field of STEM.

Second and third on the list are the Software Developing and Mathematicians/Actuaries careers with an estimated monthly income of P70, 595 and P69, 654 respectively.

Also belonging to the top 10 highest-paying jobs are the Specialist Medical Practitioners (57, 476), Statisticians (P51, 607), Medical Doctors/General Medical Practitioners (P51, 251), and Geologists (P49, 059).

Aside from a competitive salary, the STEM field also offers important equal opportunities depending on one’s specific interests, and its demand is intertwined with other disciplines.

“For one, they can discover what is currently unknown through groundbreaking scientific research. They can also transform existing industries by introducing cutting-edge technologies through their inventions. They can also pave the way for emerging industries by pioneering studies in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, renewable energy, and space exploration, among many others,” Dr. Cornelio said.

Common career paths in STEM

Here is a list of common career paths that students may take in their undergraduate studies under the STEM field.

Science: Technology

-Biologist -Software Developer

-Chemist -Data Scientist

-Environmental Scientist -Cybersecurity Analyst

-Medical Scientist -Web Developer

-Pharmacologist -IT Auditor

-Food Scientist -Computer Network Architect

-Forensic Scientist:

-Engineering

-Civil Engineer

-Mechanical Engineer

-Electrical Engineer

-Chemical Engineer

-Biomedical Engineer

-Computer Engineer

Breaking Misconceptions about STEM

According to DOST-SEI, there are also various misconceptions about choosing STEM-related careers that affect the decision-making of students. One of these is that STEM is only for academically gifted students, and careers are limited to scientists and engineers. Some also said STEM courses are too difficult and require extreme intelligence.

“In fact, STEM courses, at its core, help develop the student’s critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as creativity. These are skills that are not limited to the STEM field but can also be found in other fields. What sets STEM apart is its deeper appreciation of the world’s intricacies that may or may not be seen by the naked eye,” DOST-SEI explained, debunking misconceptions in STEM.

The agency also added that extracurricular activities such as Science fairs, robotics clubs, and research competitions are some of the many ways to help non-STEM students build their interest in the field.

Sources across the web, like the Kid Spark Education, reported that there is also a misconception that boys are better than girls at STEM subjects. It added that STEM education programs are unaffordable.

Assistance and Initiatives in promoting STEM

Moreover, to entice more students to enter the STEM field, the DOST-SEI is offering assistance and programs, promoting the importance of taking up STEM-related courses/tracks.

Some of these initiatives are the #Push4Science and NuLab programs, which are known as the targeted promotional and experiential programs in remote areas of the country.

The agency is also innovating ways to encourage basic education students to explore STEM through competitions like IndieSiyensya, a science filmmaking contest; Girls and Gears, a robotics competition for Filipina high school students; and Climate Science Youth Camp, a two-week program for basic education students in climate science.

For scholarships and assistance, the DOST-SEI is also offering undergraduate, master's, and doctorate scholarship programs both locally and internationally.

Data from the DOST-SEI in 2018 up to 2024 showed that a total of 263,000 undergraduate students were supported by the agency; 26,910 availed master’s scholarship programs; and 6,330 scholars got their doctorate through the assistance.

“At its core, STEM careers shape society. It helps drive technological progress, economic growth, and industrial innovations that propel the country toward development. Critical in this pursuit are the professionals’ contribution in addressing key fields in the country such as healthcare, energy, environment, and infrastructure among many others,” Dr. Cornelio said.

To avail a DOST scholarship, interested students may check the DOST-SEI website at https://sei.dost.gov.ph/ and follow their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DOST.SEI for more information and announcements. (By Claire Bernadette A. Mondares, DOST-STII)