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.
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. Many universities in the Philippines make special arrangements for these students wherein they undergo bridging programs and take additional coursework as prerequisite subjects.
The highest-paying jobs in the Philippines
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. Six 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 Php 70,595 and Php 69,654, respectively. Other STEM jobs among the 10 highest-paying jobs are the Specialist Medical Practitioners (Php 57,476), Statisticians (Php 51,607), Medical Doctors/General Medical Practitioners (Php 51,251), and Geologists (Php 49,059).
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.
Aspiring scientists may opt to become biologists, chemists, environmental scientists, medical scientists, pharmacologists, food scientists, or forensic scientists.
Meanwhile, those who want to pursue the technology track may become software developers, data scientists, cybersecurity analysts, web developers, IT auditors, or computer network architects.
As for possible engineering tracks, options include civil engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, biomedical engineering, and computer engineering.
Breaking misconceptions about STEM
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 believe that 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,” per a statement from DOST-SEI.
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.
Other misconceptions are that boys are better than girls at STEM subjects, and that STEM education programs are unaffordable. Neither of these are supported by evidence.
Assistance and initiatives in promoting STEM
To entice more students to enter the STEM field, 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 DOST-SEI (gathered from 2018 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.—Claire Bernadette A. Mondares (Press release from DOST-STII)/MF
To avail a DOST scholarship, interested students may check the DOST-SEI website and follow the DOST-SEI Facebook page for more information and announcements.
