CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 23 (PIA)—Aiding the financially-needy students in private schools, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)-10 already released the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) to 21 higher education institutions (HEIs) in the region, which amounts to P1.26 million.
The grants-in-aid program also provides for those studying in private schools in municipalities and cities without public universities.
“Almost all of our HEIs nga naa’y TES grantees on process na pud siya. Naa na’y first batch of about 21 HEIs nga nakadawat na pero naa pa’y second batch kay mao to sila ang ulahi nag-submit sa verification list. Ang atong proseso naa may lines of verification sa estudyante,” CHED-10 Regional Director Raul Alvarez said during the NorMin COVID-19 Response Task Force press conference, June 23.
(We are processing the TES of almost all of our HEIs, which handle TES grantees. We already have the first batch with about 21 HEIs which received the subsidy but we still have the second batch. This batch were the last to submit the verification list. Our process have lines of verification for the students)
Alvarez added that the regional office is dependent on the list approved by the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) board in Manila.
“Muhulat mi nga naa na ang tanan. For as long nga anaa na ang kwarta (We will wait until everything is ready. For as long as the money is available), it does not take time for us to release,” the regional director said.
As for the liquidation of the subsidy, Alvarez said it is easy to accomplish such since the schools will just need the signature of the students who received the cash assistance.
For complaints on the said program like irregularities of schools, the regional director urges stakeholders to file a complaint to their office so they can conduct immediate investigation on such matter.
In terms of adapting the new normal for SY 2020-2021, Alvarez said, “We have to be creative in delivery of quality instruction.” Thus, he urged the schools to use flexible mode of learning, recalibrate spaces to ensure social distancing is observed, consider changes in curriculum, and train faculty to deliver via online mode.
The education subsidy is the flagship social development program of President Rodrigo Duterte on higher education, which aims to help students pay their tuition and miscellaneous fees and other education expenses. (RTP/PIA10)