ROOTED in their slogan, “Learn to grow, learn in AGRO,” students from Agro-Industrial Foundation College of the Philippines (AIFCP) can be assured of a quality education that has been made more accessible.
“We want to be accessible to everyone, especially those who dream to have a good life,” Bernadeth M. Aguilar, Vice President for Administration, said.
Since 1978, AIFCP, a pioneer maritime institution in Mindanao located at Agro Compound, Bolton Riverside, Ecoland Dr. Matina, Davao City, has been producing maritime graduates with their flagship programs – Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation (BSMT) and Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering (BSMarE).
The AIFCP’s BSMT program is designed to produce competent and skilled graduates in maritime seamanship so that after apprenticeship, the graduates are capable of performing their tasks on board merchant vessels.
On the other hand, BSMarE is designed to produce integrated, dynamic, and sufficiently oriented graduates in the operation, care, and maintenance of propulsion units and auxiliary machinery.
AIFCP also accepts scholarships from private and public organizations grants such as Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES), Congressional Scholarship, Scholarship on Tertiary Education Program (STEP), and their in-house grants of Academic Scholarship and Athletic Scholarship.
Aguilar said even though other private institutions have increased their tuition, she said their tuition remains at P469.83 per unit despite the effects of Covid-19 on the school.
Face-to-face classes
Aguilar said they already started their face-to-face classes during the summer. However, the face-to-face classes were limited to professional subjects while general education classes remained online using their learning management system (LMS).
They have also started bringing back face-to-face classes to help the students learn the practical skills that they will be needing. This will also allow the students to be comfortable socializing with other people.
They have to know how to interact with other people. How can they communicate with the other people on the ship if they are not comfortable with other people around them?,” Aguilar said.
The school has put in place health protocols to ensure the safety of the students and its employees. One of the primary measures is observing the minimum public health standards like the wearing of face masks.
Aguilar said they made sure that their students are following the health protocols being implemented inside their campus to ensure their safety against Covid-19.
She said most of the students are also vaccinated against the disease.
“Around 98 percent of our students are vaccinated. They also wear face masks and practice social distancing,” Aguilar said.
She said whether the student is vaccinated or not, they are still welcome at AIFCP.
“We allowed unvaccinated students because there’s no law prohibiting them. They just need to protect themselves against Covid-19,” Aguilar said.
Aguilar said another layer of health safety measure is requiring the students to submit an annual medical examination result.
Meanwhile, she said they are happy that the students return to the schools after more than two years of online classes and being at home.
With the new school year fast approaching, AIFCP is now accepting enrollment for the incoming first-year students as well as transferees.
To enroll and to know more about AIFCP, interested students may reach out to their Admission Office or contact 09915005121, 09364625275, Telephone number (082) 295 - 2902. Students may also visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AIFCPofficial.