Gov’t expands financial assistance to students, teachers in private education
By Gigi P. Montejo
Tacloban City (18 October) -- To support government’s campaign to alleviate poverty, the government through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) expands its financial assistance to students and teachers in the private education.
This is provided for in Republic Act No. 8545 otherwise known as “Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Act” specifically Section 8 of this Act.
Section 8 establishes the Private Education Student Financial Assistance (PESFA) program which affords educational grants to deserving students in private post-secondary non-degree Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) courses in line with the skills requirements of the priority sectors identified in the National Technical Education and Skills Development Plan (NTESDP).
The PESFA program aims to extend financial assistance to marginalized but deserving students in post-secondary non-degree technical vocational courses; promote technical vocational education and training; contribute to the development of a component skilled workforce responsive to the national development thrusts and strategies and assist private institutions in their development efforts by assuring a steady supply of enrollees to their course offerings.
This TESDA-PESFA program provides to each grantee for two (2) semesters per school year tuition and other school fees not exceeding P4,500.00 per semester, monthly stipend of P500.00 per month but not to exceed five months and student book allowance of P250.00 per semester.
High school graduate intending to avail of this educational grant must meet the criteria set by TESDA. He must belong to a family with an annual gross income of not more than P120,000.00; physically and mentally fit to undergo training; does not have any pending administrative or criminal charges; must be of good moral character certified by the school principal and is not a recipient of any government scholarship grant of similar nature.
A student applicant undergoes a pre-screening process and qualifying examination administered by TESDA in order to avail of this educational assistance.
Only programs registered under the Unified TVET Program Registration and Accreditation System (UTPRAS) shall be allowed on this particular educational grant. (PIA-8) [top]
