CHED clarifies: Only freshmen merit scholarship program is suspended

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) clarified on Saturday that only new applications for its merit or grade-based scholarship program have been suspended due to budget problems.

CHED Chairperson Prospero de Vera said at the Laging Handa public briefing that the Commission has other scholarship programs that are not affected by the suspension.

“Ang hindi lang po napondohan o kulang ang pondo ng scholarship ng CHED ay ‘yung tinatawag na merit scholarship. Ito ‘yung scholarship na ibinibigay based on grades. Marami pong scholarship ang CHED. Halimbawa ‘yung tertiary education subsidy, ‘yung Tulong Dunong under RA 10931, hindi po apektado ‘yan,” he said.

(The only program that was not funded was the merit scholarship. This is the scholarship that we give based on grades. CHED has other scholarship programs. For example, the tertiary education subsidy and Tulong Dunong under RA 10931. These were not affected.)

“’Yung ating scholarship para sa Doktor sa Bayan, may pondo po iyan. ‘Yung scholarship natin para sa anak ng mga sugar workers, may pondo ‘yan. Ang kinulang po ng pondo noong ibinigay ang budget sa CHED ay ‘yung merit scholarship. Ito po ‘yung scholarship na inaaplyan ng mga estudyante based on grades. Pataasan po sila ng grades para sa priority programs,” he explained.

(There is a budget for our Doktor Para sa Bayan scholarship. The scholarship for children of sugar workers . The only program that lacked funds was the merit scholarship. This is the scholarship that is based on grades. They compete for higher grades for priority programs.)

According to De Vera, CHED can only fund continuing scholars of the said merit program and not new applications.

“Sinuspinde po natin na tumanggap ng mga bagong application sa CHED merit scholarship dahil kulang po ang pondo. ‘Yun lang po ang apektado. Ang apektado dyan ay mga 5,000 slots for scholarships. Maliit po ‘yan compared sa pangkabuuang financial assistance ng CHED,” he added.

(We have suspended accepting new applications to CHED merit scholarship due to lack of funds. That is the only affected program. Some 5,000 slots for scholarships are affected. This is small compared to the comprehensive financial assistance of CHED.)

In a memorandum dated February 21, De Vera said it would temporarily be suspending new applications for the said scholarship program of CHED for the academic year 2022 to 2023.

The CHED’s share under the 2022 General Appropriations Act is only around P31.68 billion, which is P18.83 billion lower than its P50.51-billion budget last year.

/MUF