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Private Education Student Fund Assistance (PESFA) Program and ADB Scholarship Program
The Private Education Student Fund Assistance (PESFA) Program is a grant on technical vocation education to all high school graduates who are willing to take up technical vocational courses recognized by TESDA. Its legal basis is under Section 8 of Republic Act 8545 which establishes the TESDA-PESFA under the assistance to college freshman.
Objectives:
• To extend financial assistance to marginalized and deserving students
• To promote technical vocational education and training
• To contribute to the development of a competent skilled workforce in accordance with the
national development thrusts and strategies.
• To assist private institutions in their development efforts by assuring a steady supply of
enrollees to their course offerings.
Target Beneficiaries:
• Filipino High School Graduates
For what Economic Sectors can this Program be Applied?
The program will cater to relevant trade areas and or technology-based courses in the following priority sectors:
• Agriculture and Fishery
• Processed Food and Beverages
• Tourism (including Hotel and Restaurant)
• Decorative Crafts Gifts, Toys and Housewares, Jewelry, Decorative Ceramics
• Metals and Engineering
• Furniture and Fixtures
• Garments
• Construction
• Communication/Information Technology/Electronics
• Maritime
• Land Transport
• Health and Social Services and other Community, Social and Personal Services
• Other sectors to be approved by the TESDA Board
What types of Programs are allowed under the TESDA-PESFA?
Under the TESDA-PESFA there are three types of programs for private post-secondary non-degree vocational/technical courses, to wit:
• One-year programs (operator)
• Two-year programs (craftsman)
• Three-year programs (technician)
Only programs registered under TESDA-UTPRAS and accredited courses shall be allowed.
What assistance does the Program provide?
The TESDA-PESFA provides the following financial assistance to each grantee for two semesters per school year:
• School fees - Tuition and other school fees not exceeding P4,500.00 per semester or whichever is lower paid directly to schools upon billing. Any excess amount charge above the amount provided will be borne by the grantee;
• Monthly student stipend - P500.00 per month not to exceed five months or P2,500.00 per semester paid directly to grantee on a monthly basis; and
• Student book allowance - P250.00 per semester paid directly to the grantee. Except for tools, school-formulated manuals/handouts are acceptable.
Who may avail?
The program is open to all Filipino high school graduates intending to tae non-degree programs on technical-vocational courses and who satisfy the following general qualifying requirements:
• must belong to a family whose annual gross income is not more than P120,000.00. In case of exemption in filing income tax return, original copy of the certificate from BIR or affidavit under oath, certifying that the income of parents falls below the taxable amount;
• must be a secondary school graduate without any post-secondary or higher education unit taken after high school graduation and with a general high school grade average of 80% or above;
• must be physically and mentally fit to undergo training/education;
• must not have any pending administrative or criminal charges,
• must be a good moral character certified by the school principal, and
• must not be a recipient of any government scholarship grant of similar nature.
The program is likewise open to Non-Formal Education Accreditation and Equivalency Secondary Level Certificate Graduates. Further, they shall be exempted from the grade requirement indicated above as entrance requirement, but subject to the other criteria and requirements.
How does one Avail of the Scholarship Grant?
The following are the general procedures and guidelines to be strictly followed by a student/applicant:
• must pass the pre-screening process by TESDA Regional/Provincial/District offices;
• must fill-up and submit grant application Form (Form A-1) with the required documents to the nearest TESDA Provincial Office or District Office within the region where the applicant is a resident of. Application with complete requirements will be scheduled for qualifying examination; and
• must pass the qualifying examination. Those who passed the examination shall be included in the list of potential grantees.
A student/applicant who will be accommodated as grantee within the given slot allocation will be given a notice of award and shall be required to sign a contract with TESDA. The grantee shall then be allowed to enroll only in school within the province of his/her residence . In cases where there are no accredited programs/schools within the province, the grantee can enroll in any school within the region subject to the recommendation and approval of the TESDA Provincial and Regional Director, respectively. Under such arrangement, the slot will remain with the recommending TESDA provincial office.
What are the Obligations of the Scholarship Grantee?
As a grantee, he/she is expected to:
• must belong to a family whose annual gross income is not more than P120,000.00. In case of exemption in filing income tax return, original copy of the certificate from BIR or affidavit under oath, certifying that the income of parents falls below the taxable amount;
• must be a secondary school graduate without any post-secondary or higher education unit taken after high school graduation and with a general high school grade average of 80% or above;
• must be physically and mentally fit to undergo training/education;
• must not have any pending administrative or criminal charges,
• must be a good moral character certified by the school principal, and
• must not be a recipient of any government scholarship grant of similar nature.
What are the Grounds for Outright Disqualification in the Availment of Scholarship Grant?
• Average grade lower than 2.5 or 80%
• Change of course or school
• Dropping out
• Enrollment outside of the region
• Deferment of scholarship grant without approval from TESDA Regional/Provincial Office and for more than one semester
• Semestral load is below the regular number of subjects or units prescribed by the school
• Grantees have been subject to disciplinary action carrying a penalty of one month suspension or more.
• Conviction of administrative and criminal charges
What are the roles of the Schools?
Participating schools are expected to:
• offer programs which are registered with TESDA under UTPRAS and are consistent with identified skills priorities in their respective areas;
• provide adequate and qualified faculty to handle the course;
• evaluate and submit to TESDA-Provincial Office scholastic ratings of grantees not later than two weeks after the close of every school semester;
• extend guidance, counseling, placement, job assistance and other similar or allied services to grantees;
• submit promptly and punctually financial and other reports that may be required by TESDA-Regional Office through TESDA-Provincial Office;
• maintain separate accounting records subject to periodic inspectional visits by TESDA-COA representatives and other TESDA officials, and
• recommend measures for the improvement of the PESFA scholarship program.
How is the mode of payment done?
The TESDA Regional Office shall pay the TVET schools through the voucher system.
Under this system, a grantee is issued a PESFA Voucher Form bearing the specified amount of financial assistance and the approved course and duration, which is then presented to the school where he/she intends to enroll. The school shall then submit to TESDA the voucher, together with the billing and the prescribed reports indicating the actual payments to be made for tuition and other fees*. The school must show proof that the fees charged for PESFA grantees is the same as those for non-PESFA grantees enrolled in the same course.
The financial assistance to grantees shall be given by TESDA Regional/Provincial Offices on a monthly basis (except book allowance) through payroll or ATM whichever is a applicable.
*If tuition fee per semester is more than P4,500.00, then grantee pays for the difference.
What are the Reporting Requirements?
On the part of the Grantee
• He/she should present his/her registration form to TESDA Regional/Provincial Office upon acceptance by the school as proof to claim initial allowance.
• He/she should present his/herself to TESDA Regional/Provincial Office prior to succeeding payment of monthly stipend.
On the part of the Schools
• Submit to TESDA Regional/Provincial Office billing and copy of grades of grantees not later than two weeks after the close of every school semester in order to facilitate payment of tuition and other miscellaneous fees. |
