PNoy signs law giving scholarship grants to top graduates of public high schools

Published December 2, 2014 11:45am

(Updated 2:42 p.m.) President Benigno Aquino III has approved a law allowing top graduates of public high schools to secure scholarship grants in state colleges and universities.

Aquino signed Republic Act 10648, also known as the “Iskolar ng Bayan” Act, last November 27, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Under the new law, all public high school students belonging to the top 10 of the graduating class who will enroll in SUCs as freshmen shall be given academic scholarships.

The top students should have been enrolled in the public high school for two years to qualify for the scholarship. They should also pass the entrance exam of their chosen SUC.

Public high schools with bigger number of graduates shall be entitled to one additional scholarship slot in SUCs for every 500 graduates.

The scholarship grant, which covers tuition and other school fees, is, however, limited to the first year of college.

Students need to qualify for the regular student financial assistance and scholarship programs provided by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to be able to get further financial aid.

The new law also mandated government to ensure that CHED and SUCs have sufficient funds to support these scholarship grants. — Andreo Calonzo/KBK/RSJ, GMA News

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