TACLOBAN CITY – About 300 students took the Nationwide Competitive Examination for Fisheries Scholarship Program – Fisherfolk Children Educational Grant (FCEG) offered by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
The competitive examination, held at the Leyte Normal University on March 22, 2014, offers free college education to children of small-scale fishermen who are interested to pursue a four-year BS Fisheries course.
The top ten passers will be granted the scholarship but during his recent visit to the region, BFAR Director Asis Perez said that more slots would be made available for interested students who were affected by supertyphoon Yolanda.
Examinees who applied for the scholarship program were assessed according to qualifications that includes, among others: a high school graduate or 4th year graduating students(SY 2013-2014) who is a son or daughter of bonafide of small-scale fisherman; not more than 20 years old; not presently enrolled in any course with a general weighted average (GWA) not lower than 80 or its equivalent; with not more than P 25,000 annual family income and parents must be a member of a fishing association, a cooperative duly attested by the chairman and secretary of the association or a registered fisherfolk with BFAR.
The full scholarship grant would provide free matriculation and other fees, monthly stipend of P2, 500; semestral book allowance of P2, 000; thesis support of P3, 000 and graduation support of P500.
The program aims to help children from marginalized fisher folk families to earn a degree that is in demand.
According to BFAR-8 Regional Director Juan Albaladejo, the region currently has 20 scholars under the program pursuing BS Fisheries courses.
They are enrolled at the Visayas State University- Tolosa Campus in Leyte, Samar State University in Catbalogan City, Cebu Technological University in Carmen, Cebu and Southern Leyte State University in Bontoc, Southern Leyte. (AHLETTE C. REYES)
