Objectives

Beneficiaries

The primary beneficiaries of the Mentorship Program were our mentees from Grade 5 and Grade 6 in Project 6 elementary school.

As set with Project 6 Elementary School, Mitsa mentors handled students from their Grade 5 and 6 special science sections. In total, 2 sections, or approximately 70 students received the opportunity to participate in our workshops and sessions.

Aims of the Project

introducing mentees to science high schools (SHSs)
developing their essay writing skills
preparing them for entrance examinations
providing other soft skills by aspiring SHS applicants
clear misconceptions regarding STEM
allow mentees to prepare for high school

Needs Assessments

Table 1. Percentages of PSHS System Applicants who were Principal Qualifiers in 2014-2020 Classified by School Type.

Note: Data was taken from https://www.foi.gov.ph/requests/aglzfmVmb2ktcGhyHgsSB0NvbnRlbnQiEVBTSFMtMjkxOTkzNjUxNTUyDA.
Formula: (No. of Qualifiers)/(No. of Applicants) x 100

PSHS Passers Demographics

Dominated by Private School Graduates

The demographic of Philippine Science High School, especially the Main Campus, comprises mostly students who came from private schools.

As shown in Table 1, in data released through a public request made in November 2021, it is observed that a private school student has greater chances of passing the NCE.

From 2014 to 2020, the percentage of qualified private school applicants has consistently outnumbered the percentage of qualified public school applicants.

PSHS Applicants Demographics

Drop in Public School Applicants

Compared to the 22,906 public school applicants in the 2019 NCE, only 7,237 applicants came from public schools in the 2020 NCE-RACE admissions cycle.

This may be attributed to the difficulties during the pandemic, especially for low-income families without access to the internet or gadgets, as the NCE-RACE admission process was solely administered online.

Need for Mentorship Programs

Mentorship on applications is usually available to high school students in preparation for their university applications like CAUSE, CAMP Philippines, and Get CET! As applications to universities rely on grades and extracurriculars from a student’s high school experience, mentorship for elementary students in preparation for their applications to high schools is just as essential. However, mentorship programs for specialized science high schools are lacking.

Significance

Bridging the gap

To bridge that gap while also providing quality and relevant mentoring, Mitsa Tutoring’s Mentorship Program was conducted in a public elementary school in Quezon City.

Inclusive Mentorship

Furthermore, the project made mentorship available to students from diverse backgrounds, as these opportunities are typically reserved for those with connections to science high school students. Mitsa aims to be as inclusive as possible, in line with similar initiatives campaigning for quality education for all students.

Promote Science Education

The project aims to promote science education, science high schools, and the pursuit of a career in STEM among elementary students.

Expected Outcomes

Increase in elementary students' interest in STEM and its various subfields through the program's provided mentorship, workshops, and information sessions
Improvement in mentees' essay skills through the workshops
Having developed valuable skills such as introspection, writing and listening skills, and the ability to confidently and accurately respond to questions
Students having improved communication and collaborative skills through contact with mentors and fellow mentees through info sessions and casual talks
Cleared the misconceptions about STEM education and science high schools of mentees and their parents
Assisted the mentees in getting admitted to the science high schools to which they will apply to.

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