Capitol grants more college scholarships

Cebu - The Provincial School Board will double the number of recipients of the provincial government’s scholarship program by granting aid to up to four scholars from every local government unit across the province.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, herself the chairperson of PSB, said the province has decided to accommodate more scholars so that more underprivileged but deserving students will get a chance at tertiary education.

There are 145 existing scholars all over the province, 11 of them will graduate this March.

Desiree Kristine Rita, a scholar from of San Fernando, told The FREEMAN she is among the 11 who will finish this March. She is taking up Liberal Arts and Commerce at the University of San Jose Recoletos.

“Kon wala ang scholarship di gyud ko kaeskwela sa college. Mao nga magpasalamat gyud ko ni Governor Garcia,” Rita said.

Rita said that aside from tuition fee, the province is giving them P1,000 allowance per month.

The graduating scholars will be receiving cash incentives and commendation to the graduating scholars.

Last year, the provincial government gave out education assistance to 56 honor students from public high schools.

The Cebu Tertiary Educational Assistance Program was started in 1993 during the term of then governor Pablo Garcia. It was revived two years ago through the request of Board Member Juan Bolo, who heads the committee on education in the Provincial Board.

Since CTEAP started, no recipient was removed from the scholarship roster, except in cases when the scholar failed to maintain the grade requirement and got married early.

Scholars need to maintain a grade of 2.5 and are required to render service for three weeks in jobs related to their field of education at any government office. Scholars are also not allowed to shift courses and are encouraged to enrol in so-called ladderized programs like education.

The province has encouraged scholars to enrol in either between the Cebu Normal University and Cebu State College of Science and Technology in a campus nearest to their homes.

This arrangement, Garcia said, would help decongest schools in Cebu City and would allow parents of the scholars to guide them in their education.

CNU has campuses in Cebu City and Balamban, while CSCST has nine campuses located in San Francisco, Daanbantayan, Danao, Carmen, Tuburan, Argao, Barili, Malabuyoc and Moalboal. — Garry B. Lao/JMO (THE FREEMAN)