Antique’s provincial government, through the Provincial Youth Development Office, is targeting some 6,500 undergraduate and graduate students for its educational assistance program.

“There is an allocation of P50 million for the educational assistance this 2018,” Rexon C. Nodque, officer in-charge of the Provincial Youth Development Office, said.

Nodque said undergraduate students could apply for educational assistance until July 31.

“The provincial government is giving P5,000 per scholar per semester as assistance,” he said, adding that the office hopes to release the assistance for the first semester by September.

Nodque noted that more than 4,000 undergraduate students availed of the program last year.

“This school year, we are targeting 6,000 students to avail of the assistance,” he said.

Meanwhile, graduate students who would like to avail of the assistance may come to the Antique Youth Development Office to apply from August 1 to August 15.

“Last year, there were 350 graduate school students who availed of the assistance,” Nodque said, adding that this year, they are eyeing 500 to 600 graduate school students, preferably those pursuing a master’s degree or a doctorate in education and public administration.

Graduate students receive P6,000 per semester.

The assistance for graduate students was implemented because Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao wanted to encourage more of her constituents to pursue higher education, aligned with her administration’s thrust on human development.

They may opt to enroll in Antique or outside of the province, just like the undergraduate students. (PNA)