2019

This is an Entry to the Government Best Practice Recognition Awards

Title

Iskolar ng Laguna

Organization

Provincial Government of Laguna

Best practice Focus Area(s)

Leadership, Strategic planning and deployment, Customer and citizen focus

Year Implemented

2014

Summary

Iskolar ng Laguna, under the administration of Governor Ramil L. Hernandez, started in 2014 is an award of financial aid for students who are deserving yet financially challenged to further their education. Scholarships are awarded based upon various criteria, which reflect the values and purposes of the Provincial Government of Laguna’s program. Generally, the program aims to provide quality education to the financially disadvantaged sector of the Province of Laguna.

Initiated by the former Governor,  Jose D. Lina in 1995 as Study Now Pay Later Plan Program, which continued as financial assistance during the term of Governor Teresita Lazaro, and as EskolaR ng Laguna (Batang Jose Rizal ng Bagong Laguna) as one of the pilot programs of former Governor Jeorge “ER” Ejercito Estregan.

With the initial beneficiaries of 6,049 in 2014, the scholars are now 11,408 students as of the 1st semester 2018-2019. 

Background and Problem

The Provincial Government of Laguna envisions the province as a premier province of the Philippines, a peaceful, progressive, prosperous, and ecologically balanced place with educated, friendly, healthy, morally upright, and productive citizens who shall spearhead and take an active part in nation-building. Lack of access to quality education to the financially disadvantaged sector and the low tertiary. The completion rate compelled the Administration to establish the Iskolar ng Laguna program.

Objectives

  • To increase the number of graduates in the baccalaureate degree by 65% from the number of enrollees from the 1st year
  • To increase the number of graduates in the TECH-VOC by 90% of the total number of enrollees from the 1st year
  • To maintain the PRC licensure exams passers above the national passing rate
  • To develop a curriculum responsive to the needs of the local industries like automotive, tourism and light manufacturing industries
  • To enhance linkages to academe and industry both local and international

Solution and Impact

Public education has an important role to play inequitably preparing all students to lead successful and happy lives. Scholarship Grant aims to provide a student-centered learning process, the relevant upliftment of their lives once education is done.

One of the most important effects education has on society is giving the people who live in a society the skills they need to compete in the global marketplace, and the skills they need to produce technological goods that can be sold on the open market. Socrates best expressed this idea when he stated: “Prefer knowledge to wealth, for the one is transitory, the other perpetual.” Indeed scholarship grant is crucial particularly to those who are financially challenged.

The steps conducted to start and implement the Best Practice

  • Announcement of the schedule of the qualifying examination
  • Qualifying Examination
  • Checking of Test Papers
  • Encoding of Results
  • Issuance of the letter notifying that they are qualified students
  • Issuance of the application form and Pagpapatunay forms to scholars
  • Submission of fully-accomplished requirements
  • Distribution of grants/allowance

 

So far, the Scholarship program has benefited a great number of marginalized youth and shall continue to uplift the living condition of these people.

Milestones

The Provincial Government of  Laguna through the Iskolar ng Laguna Program ensures that appropriate education is extended to intellectually promising students within its jurisdiction. This administration ensures that the learning needs of the marginalized and less privileged individuals within the localities are properly addressed.

Education is a powerful tool that can be used to make the world a better place to live in, with the Scholarship Grant, the people from Laguna shall have a better future. Remarkably, the administration has assisted a total of 11,408 beneficiaries, on its high increasing trend since its inception and shall continue to uphold the interests of the youth in assuring underprivileged but deserving students get to graduate, find a better job and eventually uplift the living condition of the recipients’ families.