By Reynaldo E. Andres
Contributor
Batac CITY—Hundreds of high school graduates in Ilocos Norte
and transferees from various colleges in Region 1 who have availed of the
government’s Expanded Students’ Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation
(ESGP-PA) are now enrolled in the different degree programs of the Mariano
Marcos State University (MMSU).
This sudden influx of ESGP-PA
beneficiaries in MMSU is the result of the abolition of the Priority
Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) by Pres. Benigno C. Aquino III which
hampered most of the scholarship grants given by politicians to deserving
children of indigent families. With most of the PDAF-based scholarships gone,
students who enjoyed such grants also ceased their pursuit of education.
Beneficiaries of this program
are children belonging to indigent households under the National Household
Targeting System (NHTS) for poverty alleviation of the Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD).
In Region I, only MMSU and
the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University in La Union are accredited by
the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as centers for the ESGP-PA which is
under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) that screens applicants for
the ESGP-PA.
The ESGP-PA aims to address
poverty alleviation by increasing the number of graduates in higher education
among poor households and let these graduates employed in high-value
occupations in order to lift their families out of poverty and, at the same
time, contribute to national development.
The program is implemented by
CHED in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management, Philippine
Association of State Universities and Colleges, DSWD, and the Department of
Labor and Employment.
Children who are qualified in
this program can enroll in MMSU or in DMMMSU and take up priority programs of
CHED and other course offerings aligned with the government key growth areas
such as electronics, business, tourism, agriculture, fisheries, general
infrastructure and other priority manufacturing industries.
Although the students are
well-supported by this program, they should still pass the required cut-off
scores of the degree programs they want to pursue and should pass the required
number of units per semester.
The ESGP-PA was formed
through CHED Memorandum Order No. 09, series of 2012 through its disbursement
acceleration program. Through this program, the DSWD is providing each student
an annual financial assistance of P60,000 which is broken down as follows:
P20,000 for tuition, other fees and academic and extracurricular expenses;
P5,000 for textbook and other learning materials; and P35,000 for food,
lodging, clothing, transportation, health or medical needs, basic school
supplies and other related costs.
There are 40,453 slots
nationwide allotted for the ESG-PA which has a total budget of P2.5 billion and
are proportionally distributed among state colleges and universities. As one of
the requirements, applicants to this program shall enroll in the following
priority programs identified by CHED: Information Technology (includes
Multimedia, Animation, and Library Science); Agriculture and Related Fields
(include Veterinary Medicine and Agricultural Engineering); Teacher Education
(with major in Math, Science, Physics, English, and Chemistry); Science and
Mathematics (include Math, Physics, Biology, and Statistics); Engineering
(includes Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Electronics, and Mechanical);
Health Sciences (include
Pharmacy, Medical Technology, and Physical Therapy); Arts and Humanities
(include Philosophy, Theology, and Religious Education); Social and Behavioral
Sciences (include Psychology, Social Works, and Guidance); Business
Administration and Related Courses (include Accountancy, and Tourism);
Architecture (includes Landscape Architecture, Interior Design, and Fine Arts);
Maritime (BS Marine Transportation); and Communication (includes Journalism and
Broadcasting courses).
To avail of the program, a
student must be identified as beneficiary of the 4Ps by the DSWD, not more than
30 years old at the time of application, must be physically and mentally fit,
has completed high school and/or equivalent education, must not be covered by
other higher education scholarship/grant from public institutions, and must
pass the College Freshman Admission Test (CFAT).
The student must carry a full
load subjects per semester as prescribed in the curriculum and finish within
the required period of the program. He should maintain a satisfactory academic
performance in accordance with the policies and standards of MMSU, render a
return service of two years after graduation in the country except for highly
critical courses determined by local industry and government services, and
adhere to terms and conditions as stipulated in the program.
Comments
Post a Comment