QUEZON City, Feb. 27, 2015 – A parish in the diocese of Novaliches will roll out in June an education program that will grant short term course and college scholarships to deserving students from poor families in its communities.
The inside of Our Lady of Mercy parish church in Novaliches proper. (Photo: Oliver Samson)
Known as Educational Assistance Program (EAP) of Our Lady of Mercy parish, the initiative will initially enroll 20 young people in four-year, two-year, and short term courses next school year, said pastoral worker Rod Santos in a Feb. 24 interview.
Degree of choice
According to Santos, the EAP requires from the candidate scholar at least a general average grade of 83 to pre-qualify for the degree course scholarship.
The applicant can take the admission test at the school of his choice, provided the tuition fee and other expenses are sustainable under the program, Santos said.
The student can also take the degree of his choice, he added.
Charitable individuals, families, and groups will be tapped by the parish to fund the EAP, Santos said.
Useful, employable skills
Our Lady of Mercy parish has also tied up with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and Bayan Academy to equip indigent but deserving students with useful and employable skills, he revealed.
The EAP will also tap the Scholarship and Youth Development Program (SYDP), which currently helps some students from the parish as scholars of Quezon City, he added.
Applicants, who will not meet the grade requirement for scholarship for the degree course, can apply for the two-year and short term courses, Santos said.
Last year, Our Lady of Mercy parish was able to help 32 people graduate from short term courses, like culinary arts, hair dressing, and beauty care, at Bayan Academy, he said. Some of them are employed now.
Parish youth program
The EAP is an initiative of Fr. Tony Labiao, Our Lady of Mercy parish priest, who saw the needs of many out-of-school youth in communities under his parish, Santos said.
The parish covers two barangays only, the Novaliches proper and Sta. Monica.
The scholarship is part of the strengthening of the parish’ youth program, Santos said.
Application for EAP, which started this month, is ongoing at Our Lady of Mercy parish until May, he said. (Oliver Samson/CBCPNews)
