Section 8June 10, 1989, Sec./Art. 8

Assistance to College Freshmen. - (a) The Voucher System of Private Education Student Financial Assistance (PESFA) Program. The existing Private Education Student Financial Assistance (PESFA) Program which covers degree and vocational/technical courses shall be expanded so that a minimum of ten percent (10%) for the school year 1989, fifteen percent (15%) for the school year 1990, twenty percent (20%) for the school year 1991, twenty-five percent (25%) for the school year 1992 and thereafter, of all enrolling first year students can benefit from a full or partial scholarship, plus an allowance.

Such financial assistance shall be granted to deserving underprivileged students, who shall be selected on the basis of family income, geographic spread and results of competitive examinations to be given by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports to students in all secondary schools. The program shall be equitably allocated to provinces and cities in accordance with regional and national plans to priority courses as determined by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports in coordination with the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA). The priority courses shall be submitted to Congress at the start of this program and any changes thereon periodically.

For purposes of this Act, an underprivileged student shall refer to a student whose annual gross income, if any, and that of the combined annual gross income of his parents do not exceed thirty-six thousand pesos (P36,000).

(b) Tuition Waiver. - Private colleges and universities shall provide for full or half tuition waivers for five percent (5%) of the entering freshmen, which shall include among others, valedictorians and salutatorians of both public high schools and private high schools charging less than one thousand five hundred pesos (P1,500) per student per year as of school year 1988-1989, or such amount in subsequent years as may be determined by the State Assistance Council: Provided, That those valedictorians and salutatorians meet admission tests and retention requirements of the schools concerned. For this purpose, the tuition rates for entering freshmen in all private schools and colleges may be determined by the school itself, after appropriate consultations with parents, students and the alumni of the school.

For this purpose, audited financial statements shall be made available to authorized representatives of these sectors.

(c) Allowance of Valedictorians. - Subject to rules and regulations as may be promulgated by the State Assistance Council, valedictorians referred to under subparagraph (b) above, may, in addition to tuition waivers granted by the school concerned, be entitled to such allowances from the government as are provided to PESFA grantees, provided they shall enroll in priority courses.

(d) Allowance for other Honorees. - In case the graduating class is composed of more than two hundred and fifty students, all salutatorians and first honorable mention graduates thereof may also be entitled to the allowance granted to valedictorians under the preceding paragraph.