CHED to provide scholarship to additional 36,412 poor students

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) will provide financial assistance to more than 36,000 poor but deserving students under its Expanded Students’ Grant-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGP-PA) program this coming school year.

CHED, in coordination with other government agencies, has identified 36,412 new scholars nationwide, including the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, for academic year 2014-2015.

The agency, meanwhile, will continue to support the education of 4,041 existing scholars under the Students’ Grant-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (SGP-PA).

The government has allotted some P2.5 billion for the implementation of the ESGP-PA this year.

CHED said the Department of Budget and Management would release the funds directly to the participating state universities and colleges (SUCs).

A student grantee would receive a maximum of P60,000 grant a year. The fund covers the student’s tuition and other school fees.

Last week, the DBM approved the release of P1.05 billion to CHED’s Higher Education Development Fund (HEDF) for its college scholarship and faculty development programs this year.

Isabel Inlayo, director of CHED’s Office of Student Services, said P484.8 million of the funds would be used for the scholarships of 9,034 indigent students nationwide, including those who previously benefited from the legislators’ Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). She said the total number of scholars for school year 2014-2015 is 432,536.

Application for the scholarship program under the CHED’s HEDF is until April.

Qualified students must enroll in CHED’s priority programs in selected SUCs nationwide, she said.