Updated CHED policy bars duplication of benefits
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has updated the implementing guidelines of its student financial assistance programs to ensure that financial benefits provided to college students are not duplicated.
CHED chairman J. Prospero De Vera III recently approved a new memorandum order containing the implementing guidelines on CHED Scholarship Programs (CSPs), amending the 2014 policy on student financial assistance programs of the agency.
The new policy specifically provides that college students who enjoy other financial benefits, particularly those receiving stipends as mandated in the free higher education law, shall no longer qualify for CSPs.
These include existing beneficiaries of the expanded grants-in-aid program for poverty alleviation, who enjoy free higher education privilege and receive yearly stipend, as well as other students enrolled in public and private higher education institutions who enjoy free tuition and stipend benefits.
“The financial assistance provided in the policy is meritbased, which can be availed of by the students depending on the type of scholarship awarded, which shall be in the form of stipend and tuition,” the order read.
“The financial assistance under the CSPs shall be harmonized with the monetary benefits under the (Tertiary Education Subsidy) as well as with the free tuition and other school fees privilege provided in Republic Act 10931 (Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act) and its implementing rules and regulations, and other pertinent laws granting financial assistance,” it added.
In the policy, De Vera said the CSPs shall be accessible to qualified and deserving Filipino students, preferably those belonging to the special group of persons, such as underprivileged and homeless citizens, persons with disability, solo parents and their dependents, senior citizens and indigenous peoples.
In an amendment to the policy last month, the commission lowered the minimum grade requirement from 90 percent to 85 percent.