25 I.T. students to benefit from aid

CEBU, Philippines - The city government will set aside P2.5 million as counterpart for a scholarship program that will benefit 25 students in Cebu City.

The scholarship grant called Earn As You Learn (EAYL) is patterned after an industry-government-academe partnership between IBM Australia, the University of Ballarat and the Victoria State Government.

In Cebu, the program will be implemented by the City Government, the University of Cebu and IBM Philippines. Every year, the grant will benefit 25 students from Cebu City with significant IT skills. They will be enrolled in a course leading to a bachelor’s degree in information technology.

The city’s counterpart of P2.5 million shall cover the student’s tuition fee for the first two semesters, including the book and transportation allowance. The expenses for the rest of the year shall be shouldered by UC and IBM Philippines.

The EAYL shall also benefit 25 qualified Cebu City residents with significant IT Skills. They will be granted free tuition and miscellaneous fees to amount to 35,000 per semester, book allowance of P3,000 per semester and transportation allowance of P1,000 per month for 10 months.

In a resolution, Councilor Eduardo Rama proposed to charge the P2.5 million against the Cebu City Scholarship Funds, but Councilor Rodrigo Abellanosa pointed out that doing so may not be the right move because the city’s scholarship funds have already been allocated for its own scholarship program. The city has allocated P100 million for the scholarship program.

Rama’s proposal will be referred to the Committee on Budget and Committee on Scholarship.

The city’s scholarship program provides P10,000-worth of scholarship per semester to all graduates of Cebu City secondary schools whose parents or guardians are residents of Cebu City.

The city is supporting programs that would ensure jobs for graduates. —(FREEMAN)