Friday, 19 October 2012

Albay in pursuit of grads for each poor family, resuming scholarships


LEGAZPI CITY: Despite a halt in accepting new applicants last June, Albay province is taking education by heart as a new wave of budget has been allocated to finance the studies of some 34,000 scholars availing the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (AHECS), governor Joey Salceda said.

Salceda said 14,000 of these scholars are expected to graduate this year from their four-year courses.

He notes that the AHECS program has produced around 144,000 to 186,000 scholars from 53 colleges and universities in the province since its implementation in 2010.

Scholars under the said program are supported until they graduate through a deferred payment scheme. 

Part of their school fees are paid by the provincial government through the P5,000 enrollment assistance given per semester of their study.

Education Committee chairman and Albay board member Arnold Embestro , said that they temporarily stopped accepting AHECS scholars this year due to the unexpected budget cut from the internal revenue allotment of the province.

Acceptance of new AHECS scholars is expected to resume next year.

Salceda clarified that the provincial government has ongoing education assistance programs for deserving college students aside from the AHECS such as the Emergency Financial Assistance to Students in Tertiary Education.

The AHECS program is part of the Education Quality for Albayanos (Equal) project of Salceda which aims to produce a college graduate in every Albayano home. – Bicol Mail









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