PHL execs in Saudi seek more scholarships for Pinoy students

Philippine officials in Saudi Arabia urged the Islamic Development Bank (IDB)  to provide scholarships to more Filipino students studying in the Kingdom.   According to a report of the news site Arab News on Thursday, Ambassador Ezzedin Tago said young Filipinos were of special concern to him “that’s why I had a meeting with the Islamic Development Bank to seek further scholarship grants for our children and deserving students.”   He said Saudi Minister for Higher Education Khalid Al-Anqari announced recently that Saudi Arabia had allocated 150 graduate courses for Filipinos in various universities in the Kingdom. Last month, Tago met with Al-Anqari at the headquarters of the Ministry of Higher Education in Riyadh. After the meeting, he advised those interested in applying for the scholarships to visit universities’ websites or do so through the Philippine Embassy, which would route the applications to the Saudi Ministry of Higher Education through diplomatic channels. Tago emphasized the importance of education, noting a need to shift toward a "knowledge-based economy."  According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) "economies are increasingly based on knowledge and information. Knowledge is now recognized as the driver of productivity and economic growth." - VVP, GMA News