DAVAO CITY – The chief of the local government’s Scholarship on Tertiary Education Program (STEP) could only accommodate 200 scholars this year.
STEP Technical Assistant Emilio Domingo, Jr. said in a press conference Thursday, that for school year 2015-2016 they already have 1,400 applicants for the said program.
Applicants will undergo a pre-qualifying examination and must pass the qualifications and requirements. Out of the 1,400 applicants, only 200 will have the opportunity to benefit the scholarship.
STEP has three types of scholarships: STEP for incoming freshmen, STEP for College Level, Lumad Midwifery, Educational Financial Assistance for Lumad, Technical/Vocational, and Medicine and Laws.
Domingo said that there are schools which offer scholarships for indigenous people and the role of STEP is to give financial assistance for their board and lodging, allowance and miscellaneous fees.
“Indigenous people have a different program. We only provide them financial assistance, allowance. We don’t provide for their tuition,” Domingo said.
Scholars under STEP will have the chance to choose their desired school and what course to take, and must maintain an average grade of 80 percent to 85 percent depending on the type of scholarship they are covered.
“We have scholars in almost all of the colleges and universities within Davao City, it really depends on the student,” Domingo said.
Since it started in 2009, STEP has already produced more than 350 graduates.
The city government has allocated P18 million for the program this year. (davaotoday.com)
