BACARRA, Ilocos Norte, August 17–A total of 597 elementary and high school indigent students in this town and 484 others in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte received stipends under the provincial government’s scholarship program.
Dubbed as “Iskolar ni Manang Imee”, the financial assistance given to the group of poor but deserving students in Ilocos Norte will be used to pay for their miscellaneous fees in school.
It is one of PGIN programs in line with Millennium Development Goal (MDG) created under the Provincial Education Department (PED).
An initiative program of Governor Imee R. Marcos’ administration, it was created in response to the national government’s call for “Free Education For All”.
The 597 indigent students in Bacarra came from 21 elementary schools and one comprehensive high school, while the 484 in Sarrat are from 13 elementary schools and three high schools respectively.
Under “Iskolar ni Manang Imee”, students who belong to marginalized families receive priority assistance in the form of stipend to pay for miscellaneous school fees.
It targetted to support a total of 346 elementary schools and 48 secondary schools in the province with recorded indigent students.
Based on the PED records, funding support given to grade school and high school students for this school year 2012-2013 has reached to P4.14 million.
The amount represents the financial assistance given to scholars in both levels for the school year. Each grade school student is entitled to P250 per school year and P450 for the high school student.
Among other services, their school will also receive much needed supplies such as books, chalk boards, chart racks, cleaning materials, nebulizers and building repair support
Indigent students from identified schools for the scholarship program were identified under the National Housing Targeting System (NHTS) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. (Cherry Joy D. Garma)
