At present, the country’s “education is in crisis” because “the quality is not so good (anymore),” Augusto Go, University of Cebu (UC) president, said.
He said only 40 percent of elementary graduates go to high school while only 20 percent of those who complete high school go to college.
He said many students come from low-income households and cannot afford college education.
To address the problem, Go said UC is offering scholarships for those interested to take maritime engineering. The scholarship program includes fully free tuition and uniform.
But Go said that of the 200 scholarships available, only 126 students have availed themselves of the program.
He said some applicants to the scholarship program did not qualify as they had problems in subjects like language and physics, which are “very important” to the course.
He said UC wants to create a pool of skilled seafarers to answer local and international demand for seafarers. He added that the shortage of maritime engineers is worldwide.
“Filipino seafarers are the best because they can easily learn and understand the language and are easy to get along with,” Go said, citing a study by a Norwegian shipping organization.
He said Filipino seafarers are also not picky with food, which makes it easy for shipping companies.
Go said aside from available jobs, maritime engineers also get good pay overseas.
“They will earn P2 million per year,” he said, adding that Filipino seafarers would help the country’s economy because they would be sending money to their families here. (TEP)
