Friday, August 03, 2007 N. Cotabato college scholars now 1T
THE Provincial Government of North Cotabato is now sending a total of 1,000 poor but deserving students to college as scholars.
Since the start of the school year, 575 additional grantees have been accommodated under the Study-Now, Pay-Later Program (SNPL) upon instructions of Governor Jesus N. Sacdalan who has made education one of the priority concerns of his administration. There were 425 SNPL grantees last school year.
"One of our key policies is that no poor but deserving student shall be deprived of the opportunity to go to college and earn a degree," Sacdalan said in a press statement.
"Coming from a poor family myself and having worked my way through college, I understand the value of a college degree for poor students. It is a way out of poverty for them and their family. But the fulfillment of their dream is often hindered by the financial difficulties facing their parents. This is where our program comes in," he added.
Started by the late governor Rosario P. Diaz, the SNPL was expanded in 1998 by three-term governor and now Vice Governor Manny F. Piñol by introducing the Special Study Grant Program.
The program has since maintained 500 scholars yearly at the University of Southern Mindanao in Kabacan, University of Southern Mindanao-Kidapawan City Campus, and the Cotabato Foundation College of Science and Technology at Doroluman, Arakan.
Applicants need to pass a qualifying examination and an interview in order to qualify as grantees. Grantees are given P6,000 financial assistance per semester and are required to have no grade below 80 in all subjects.
According to program coordinator Norito Mazo, more than 2,000 scholars have already graduated in various courses since the Provincial Government's scholarship program was implemented.
These graduates are now employed in the different private and government institutions in the province and abroad. (Press release)
