AN OFFICIAL of the Educational Benefit System Unit (EBSU) announced the offer for an additional 200 slots for the Scholarship on Tertiary Education Program (STEP).
Emilio Domingo Jr, EBSU technical assistant, said Thursday during the iSpeak Media Forum that the city government added more slots to cater to more aspiring scholars.
“Naa’y 200 slots si mayor nga gi-allot para sa STEP. Every year, 1000 lang gyud na, pero karon nasa 1,200 slots na,” Domingo said.
As of June 7, 300 applicants registered and pre-qualified since the application opened on June 3. Applications are open until June 14.
STEP applicants may choose to pursue any of the approved priority courses under Teacher Education, Information and Technology Education, Health Profession Education, and Social Sciences.
For Teacher Education, Domingo emphasized the specialization of Secondary education majors in Science and Math; culture and arts; early childhood; special needs; and sports and exercise.
For Information Technology Education, applicants may choose from Computer science; cyber security; entertainment and multimedia; information systems; information technology; and library and information science.
Meanwhile, for the health profession, they may choose from medical technology; midwifery; nursing; nutrition/ dietetics; occupational therapy; radiologic technology; respiratory therapy; and speech and language pathology.
Accepted courses under social sciences include community development; human services (guidance and counseling); Indigenous peoples studies; psychology; and social work.
“The city government believes these courses will help the students, after 4 years when they graduate,” Domingo said.
The categories of STEP scholars will be determined according to their general average upon application and their economic status.
Eligible scholars under Category A will receive P25,000 per semester (P50,000 per year); Category B: P20,000 per sem (P40,000 per year), and Category C will receive P7,500 per sem (P15,000 per year).
STEP is one of the scholarships offered by the city apart from the Medical Education Assistance Program, and the Law School Assistance Program.
Medical and law schools are offered full and half scholarships. Full scholarship includes full payment of tuition and miscellaneous fees with a P20,000 book allowance for medical school and a P8,000 book allowance for law school.
Half scholarship for both means half of the tuition, miscellaneous fees, and book allowance.
Domingo reported that EBSU has a total of 2,368 scholars enrolled in different universities and colleges in the city.
As of May 24, there are 243 manifested graduates belonging to the Class of 2024 under the various educational assistance programs of EBSU, with 3 graduating Summa cum laude; 16 Magna cum laude; and 15 Cum laude.
Interested applicants for the EBSU are advised to visit the website posted on the City Government of Davao Facebook Page.
