Capitol continues college funding for grads

HIGH school students who graduated top of their class in Cebu can avail of free college education funded by the Capitol for this school year.

The Provincial Board (PB) passed a resolution that  authorized Acting  Gov. Agnes Magpale to sign an agreement for the Capitol’s Valedictorian’s Scholarship Program (VSP) and Salutatorian Scholarship Program (SSP).

Other groups that signed the agreement are the Development Bank of the Philippines and public colleges, the Cebu Technological University (CTU) and Cebu Normal University (CNU).

The resolution sponsored by PB Member Peter John Calderon  will award scholars with free tuition if they enroll in education, engineering, and computer-related courses in CNU and CTU.

They will also receive a monthly P1,000 allowance.

The scholarship program for outstanding students is separate from the Cebu Tertiary Education and Assistance Program (CTE-AP) of the provincial government.

It started under the administration of suspended Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia in 2009.  The first batch of scholars graduated with honors last March.

The PB also authorized Magpale to sign the employment contract of student employees of the province under the national government’s Special Program for Employment of Students.

Students who get hired under the program will receive 60 percent of their total salary or wage which is equal to the applicable minimum wage in a certain area.

The student-employees will also receive overtime pay, allowances and incentives. Correspondent Peter L. Romanillos