Many Applications Received for Fomento’s Scholarships HATO REY, PUERTO RICO - Acting Director of Fomento, attorney José L. Ramírez announced today that 39 public school teachers had filed for scholarships leading toward masters and doctoral degrees in the teaching of mathematics and science. “We are very enthusiastic over the response we have received today and we feel proud at being able to contribute to the education of our teachers and students in the public school system insofar as we are working toward a knowledge-based economy in Puerto Rico,” said Ramírez. The scholarship fund for teachers is part of Fomento’s efforts to improve the quality of education in public schools. This new program was opened for the first time for public school teachers of science and mathematics to be held at night, on Saturdays and during summers. “The economy of knowledge begins in the classroom which is why this program, which was announced by the Governor at the beginning of the year, represents a step forward in that direction,” Ramírez said. The Fomento director said that $200,000 annually will be disbursed to the scholarship winners who will receive $6,000 a year each for a maximum of two years. The program itself will continue for four years. The teachers selected will receive $6,000 annually for the masters’ program and $8,000 a year for a maximum of five years for the doctoral program. From all the applications received in this first offering, 21 are in area of sciences and 18 in mathematics. Ramírez noted that the scholarship program for teachers is part of a wide ranging government policy geared toward promoting the collaboration between the government, the private sector and academia, and include initiatives such as Operation Success, the Science, Research and Technology Trust and the new virtual community of Puerto Rican Scientists www.cienciapr.org, among others.