QUEZON City sees an increase in the number of its graduate-studies scholars when classes open for next school year as its scholarship program attracts more and more employees and teachers.
Rolled out only in the first semester of this school year, the Graduate Studies Scholarship Program (GSSP) currently has 18 scholars, said Rogelio Reyes, Quezon City Scholarship and Youth Development Program (SYDP) executive director.
Ten are enrolled in masteral courses and eight in doctorate degrees. The 18 include employees, teachers and school principals from QC.
The scholars are taking up special courses to meet the demand of QC’s “Knowledge Economy,” Reyes said.
Courses they were required to enroll include Urban Planning, Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Statistics, and other special studies the city needs as instruments to deal with its current and future concerns, he said.
The city does not mind about the previous course of applicants, Reyes noted. What matters most is the graduate course that they will take.
“The masteral and doctorate degrees should be aligned with the needs of Quezon City,” he said.
To ensure quality education, the SYDP requires its scholars to enroll only in reputable schools in Metro Manila, Reyes said.
GSSP scholars go to the University of the Philippines, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Miriam College, La Salle and other schools of good repute in Metro Manila, he said.
They attend regular classes after office or on week ends.
Known as Huwarang Mag-aaral ng Bayan of Quezon City, each GSSP scholar receives a yearly allocation of P70,000 that covers the tuition and stipend.
With the annual allocation, the scholar can opt to enroll even in schools that offer trimestral school year, Reyes said.
“After graduation, their expertise should be available for the city,” he said.
Their number is expected to grow once the first batch proved the program is working, Reyes said.
Implemented by virtue of a city ordinance (SP 2165, S 2012), the graduate-study scholarship program is part of QC’s campaign to achieve the status as “The Knowledge Industry Capital of the Philippines.”
SYDP welcomes to the graduate studies scholarship program applicants from government service and private practice from QC, Reyes said.