THE DEPARTMENT of Science and Technology’s Science Education Institute is reviewing its policy to better serve scholars amid the pandemic.

“We recently consulted with the various universities under the National Science Consortium towards revisiting our existing policies and revising these where possible so as to help our scholars better cope with these trying times,” it said in a statement.

The agency said it is looking for ways to help scholars receive funding in a more timely manner.

“We are also revisiting our policies on the disbursement of funds so as to better provide for their needs above and beyond the demands of the classroom — an urgent concern, given how many of them have been thrust into the thick of research early in their programs,” it added.

The stipends for undergraduate and graduate scholars have been released in full in the latter half of the year.

The agency said it is working for the immediate release of stipends for new scholars.