More college students apply for financial assistance

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has noted an increase in the number of college students applying for financial assistance programs.

CHED on Tuesday closed the submission of applications for various student financial assistance programs for the coming school year. 

“It is true that the number of applicants increased... The higher number of students who wish to secure scholarships or grants-in-aid shows that many of our youth wish to be in college or university to finish their education,” CHED chairman J. Prospero De Vera III said in Filipino. 

“This also shows the number of Filipino youth who need financial help in order for them to achieve their dream of being able to study,” De Vera added. 

The increase, as seen in the long line of applicants during the last weeks of the application period, may also be an impact of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Law, according to the CHED chief. 

De Vera said the students may have been encouraged by the law, which removed tuition and other fees in eligible state and local colleges and universities. 

Starting next year, De Vera said they would implement a new system to enable online submission of applications for student financial assistance programs. 

Drop boxes will also be places in CHED offices to enable faster submission of requirements, he added.