AWARDING GOVERNMENT SCHOLARSHIPS

MARITA S. MONTEMAYOR

What is the bottomline of awarding government scholarships? According to the Department of Education, it is not students’engagement in other activities, but their academic standing.

A scholarship should not be removed just because students are engaged in other activities. The “whole child” concept has been encouraged over the years, so in identifying honor students, their engagement to other activities must also be taken into consideration.

The basis however is still academic standing, apart from engagement in school activities.

The DepEd reiterated this in light of an earlier proposal made by a top official of the National Youth Commission to remove scholarships of students found participating in rallies and demonstrations. Officials did not welcome the proposal, saying this will impinge on student rights and curtail freedom of expression.

The most important standard is the attainment of the required academic standing, which is the real measure for giving or revoking scholarships.

There are a number of the country’s leaders who were scholars involved in extra-curricular activities during their time as students, so it is very important to emphasize that the condition for keeping a scholarship is academic performance, the DepEd said.

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The author is Secondary School Teacher III at Diosdado Macapagal Memorial High School, Floridablanca, Pampanga