Albay allocates P58M to education program

By Mike dela Rama

LEGAZPI CITY, July 7 (PNA) – The province of Albay has appropriated the second highest budgetary allocation to the education sector, next to its health program.

This year, Albay's budget for its education program is P58 million, which it has properly divided among different projects.

Dr. Ligaya Palcon, Albay Provincial Coordinator for Education, said that the Education Assistance Project has the highest share amounting to P36 million for the year 2009-2010. “This amount is being utilized as financial assistance to some 7,000 college students enrolled in all community Colleges and three Bicol University Campuses," she noted.

Under the Education Financial Assistance project, tuition fees of students are being refunded in full every end of semester by the provincial government.

According to Palcon, starting this year, their office is implementing the Graduate Study Subsidy Program (GRASSP) for teachers taking master's degree. “This program has a total budget allocation amounting to P2 million and we are now accepting applicants,” she noted.

“The objective of GASSP is to promote highly competitive, intellectual standards and teaching competencies through quality research and this program is available to all graduate students,” Palcon said.

For thesis writing, each student will receive a minimum of P30,000 and a maximum of P60,000 subsidy while for dissertation writing, a student is entitled to a minimum of P50,000 and maximum of P100,000.00 subsidy.

Meanwhile, another P6 million has been appropriated for Gawad Albay sa Edukasyon. This program aims to give recognition to Outstanding Principal in the province; Ten Outstanding Teachers in Albay (TOTAL), Student Excellence in Academic Leadership (SEAL) and Kadunong Award for Best Practices in Education program being implemented by the local government unit.

Dr. Palcon also announced that starting this month, the Albay Higher Education Contribution Scheme (AHECS) is now in full swing. “This is a newly introduced education program in the province with a total budget appropriation amounting to P16 million to cover at least 1,600 target student beneficiaries for school year 2009-2010.”

She explained that AHECS is a study now pay later scheme for poor but deserving students in the province. “Because of the increasing number of scholars and high school graduates every year, the provincial government has decided to provide a new program to help students decide what course they wishes to enroll in college.”

AHECS beneficiaries are given free hand to chose their courses and schools.

Palcon explained that AHECS is a concessional loan facility designed by the provincial government for Albayano students in the pursuit of higher education adopting the Australian model. “It is a participatory cost sharing, the provincial government pays fraction of school fees directly to the school and so with the students.”

The student beneficiary must repay the cost of his or her education when he or she gets a job. (PNA)